Ernest Emery

Private Ernest Emery, enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters on 10th September 1914, transferring to the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 16th September 1914, being posted to the Portsmouth Battalion. Royal Naval Division, He was serving with the battalion when he was killed in action at Gallipoli on 6th May 1915, his name is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli. Emery was one of 'Kitchener's Marines' who were transferred from the Sherwood Foresters to the RMLI. Des Turner notes '600 RMLI transfers came from 2 regiments - 200 from the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) and 400 from the Sherwood Foresters. They were predominantly ex-miners and labourers, fit men wanted for their ability to dig trenches and tunnels. The 200 KOYLI recruits were transferred to Plymouth Division RMLI and were given service numbers PLY/1(S) to PLY200(S). This was also the case for the Sherwood Foresters 200 who were dispatched to Portsmouth where already 30 men were recruited and so they became PO/31(S) to PO/230(S). 200 remaining Foresters went to Chatham and were numbered CH/1 to CH/200(S).'

Emery's Royal Marines Service Record date of birth 10/9/1883 is inconsistent with his CWGC age at death and ages on census records for 1891 and 1901. He was born J/F/M/1885 (BMD) so it must be presumed he gave an incorrect date of birth on enlistment. Death notice published 1st June 1915 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- EMERY. – Killed in action, near Dardanelles, Private Ernest Emery, aged 30 years, the dearly-beloved brother of Ada Curzon, 1, Parker's-terrace, Goodhead-street, Meadows. He gave his life that we might live. He died a noble death. – From his heart-broken sisters and brother.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918