L/Cpl 94246 Frank Emison

• Age: 24
• From: Haslingden, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 30th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Esquelbecq Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: I.B.38

Frank Emison was born in 1894 in Haslingden and was the son of Edmund Whittaker Emison and his wife Fanny (nee Butterworth).They had married in Rochale Register Office in 1887.

The 1901 Census show the family living at 24 Bury Rd, Haslingden. His father, Edmund Whittaker, is aged 49, born in Burnley and employed as a cotton weaver, his mother,  Fanny, is aged 47 and is also employed as a cotton weaver and was born in Bacup. Frank is aged , born in Haslingden. Also living at the address is his father's brother John Emison and his family. 

The 1911 Census show the family living at 26 Bury Rd, Haslingden. His father, Edmund Whittaker, is aged 59, and his mother, Fanny, who is aged 57 are both still employed as cotton weavers. They have been married for twenty three years and have had one child. Frank is now aged 16 and employed as a shop assistant. Edmund’s brother, John Emison and his family are still living with them.

Frank enlisted in Haslingden and served originally as Private 21886, East Lancashire Regiment and following a transfer was serving in the 19^thBattalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as No 94246, when he died of wounds on the 30^th April 1918, aged 24, during the German Spring Offensive.   

He now lies in Esquelbecq Military Cemetery, France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR”

The cemetery was opened in April 1918 during the early stages of the German offensive in Flanders, when the 2nd Canadian and 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Stations came to Esquelbecq. It was closed in September 1918, although one French grave was added in 1919 and one British soldier from 1916 was added later from an isolated site.

The cemetery was used again during the Second World War, mainly for the burial of those killed during the German advance of May 1940 and the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force to Dunkirk.

Esquelbecq Military Cemetery contains 578 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 47 from the Second World War. There are also 11 French and German burials.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His death was reported in the Haslingden Gazette 11th May 1918

LANCE-CORPL. FRANK EMISON

Mr and Mrs E. W. Emerson of 26 Bury Road, Haslingden have received the official notification of the death from wounds received in action of their son Lance-Corporal Frank Emison, East Lancs Regiment. A letter from the sister in charge of the clearing station rights that deceased was admitted there on the 29th of April suffering from gunshot wounds in the head and abdomen and both arms. He was unconscious throughout and suffered no pain. He was to be buried in a pretty little cemetery with Military Honours. The sister adds, "Please accept our great sympathy in your loss, we feel so sorry for the poor wives and mothers waiting behind. Deceased was connected with the Haslingden Congregational Chapel. He served his apprenticeship with Mr H. Clarke, grocer, Marketplace, and later took a situation at Ramsbottom. He joined up 2 years ago last January in the King's Liverpool Regiment but was afterwards transferred to the East Lancs. For a time he acted as machine gun Sergeant instructor in England. He had not been long in France.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Fanny, 26 Bury Rd, Haslingden.

Frank is also commemorated on the Haslingden Roll of Honour situated on the balcony wall, Haslingden Library, Deardengate, Haslingden, Rossendale, Lancashire.

His father Edmund died aged 80 in December 1932 and his mother Fanny died aged 80 in September 1934.

We currently have no further information on Frank Emison, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.