Description
1914 Star(with loose copy 1914 clasp) British War and Victory medal, Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, GV, Army Meritorious Service Medal, Transport Warrant Officer 2nd Class John Thomas Emerson, Royal Army Medical Corps.
An ‘Old Contemptible’ Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette, 31st Dec 1915, Supplement, 1st January 1916 (P66),: “Emerson, No. 19039 Serjeant J. T.” “In accordance with the last paragraph of my Despatch of the 15th October 1915, I have the honour to bring the notice the names of those whom I recommend for gallant and distinguished service in the field. J.D.P. French, Field Marshal, Commanding in Chief, The British Army in France.”
Meritorious Service Medal, Announced London Gazette 14th June 1918, Supplement, 17th June 1918 (P7145): 19039 Sjt. (A./Q.M.Sjt.) J. T. Emerson, R.A.M.C. (Cosham) Awarded under the heading: “KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Meritorious Service Medal to the under-mentioned Warrant Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and Men, in recognition of valuable services rendered with the Forces in France during the present war”
1914 Star officially impressed: “19039 Cpl J.T. Emerson. R.A.M.C.” Entitled to the Clasp and Roses for service in August 1914.
British War and Victory Officially impressed: “19039 T.W.O. CL. 2. J.T. Emerson. R.A.M.C.”
MID Confirmed MSM Officially impressed: “19039 Sjt – A.Q.M. Sjt :- J. T. Emerson. No:7 F.A. R.A.M.C.” Confirmed LG 14th June 1918.
Army LSGC officially impressed: “7245435 Sjt J.T. Emerson R.A.M.C.” Confirmed, Army Orders October 1922.
John Thomas Emerson was born in Rochester, Kent on 21st September 1884. The son of John T Emerson and Mary. His brother Richard, also joined the RMLI (Born 1889) He was raised in Rochester, Medway, Kent, where his father was a Engine Boilermaker and he aged 16 was working as a Builders Labourer.
On 12th February 1904, an 18 year old John joined the Militia of the Royal Army Medical Corps at Maidstone, with service number 83, the 2nd S.E.D. Coy RAMC. Having later joined the fulltime section of the Royal Army Medical Corps. He is shown on the 1911 Census living in Fareham, Hampshire at the Alexandra Military Hospital in Cosham.
With the outbreak of war, he went over to France with the original “Old Contemptibles”, entering the war on 18th August 1914. For his services under fire in this period, he was entitled to the 1914 Clasp. By January 1916, he had not been advanced from Corporal to Sergeant, when he earned a Mention in Despatches, from Lord French, sent in from his October 1915 despatch. Barely 2 years later, he had added the Meritorious Service Medal, whilst serving as Acting Quartermaster Sergeant announced in the 14th June 1918 London Gazette.
Following the end of the war, he continued his service, and received his Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, announced in the War Office list, October 1922. After leaving the Army, he lived in Winchester, Hampshire, and is shown on the 1939 Census as working as a Bus Conductor.
