Main CPGW Record
Surname: EMMOTT
Forename(s): Walter
Place of Birth: Addingham, Yorkshire
Service No: 3/9406
Rank: L/Corporal
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 2nd Battalion
Division: 5th Division
Age: 22
Date of Death: 1915-03-20
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Panel 6.
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: ADDINGHAM, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Walter Emmott was the son of James and Ellen Emmott, née Hawkridge and brother of Private Ambrose Emmott (CH/13074) (q.v.). Their father was born at Beamsley and mother at Bishopthorpe, Yorkshire.
1901 Addingham, Yorkshire Census: 149, Main Street - Walter Emmott, aged 8 years, born Addingham, son of James and Ellen Emmott.
1911 Addingham, Yorkshire Census: 6, Bolton Road - Walter Emmott, aged 18 years, born Addingham, son of Ellen Emmott, widow.
Walter was married to Florence Watts in 1913. Florence married Frederick Tattersall Burdock in 1922.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte W. Emmett, 9406, 2 W. Rid. R. Theatre of War first served in: ( - ) [France]. Date of entry therein: 21.9.14. K. in A. See Walter Emmott.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Walter Emmott, 3/9406, W. Rid. R. K. in A. 20.3.15. See W. Emmett.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Walter Emmott, 3/9406, 2 W. Rid. R. K. in A. 20.3.15.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Lce-Cpl Walter Emmott. 9406, 2nd Bn W. Riding Regt. Date and Place of Death: 20.3.15. In action. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Widow and sole legatee - Florence. £7 2s. 7d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for Walter. Name(s) on card(s): Widow: Florence, born 28.9.91. [No address given.] Children: Ronald, born 8.1.14.
The 1921 Census shows that Florence was boarding with Charles and Maria (?) Dean at 11, Wharfedale View, Addingham. Ronald was living with his grandparents, Frederick and Annie Winn Watts at 15, Southfield Terrace, Addingham. The 1939 Register shows that Florence, her husband, Frederick and their children. were living at 12, Colbert Avenue, Ilkley. Florence died in 1973 and Ronald in 1977.
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
EMMOTT, Lance Corporal Walter, [Addingham], West Riding Regiment, aged 22, killed in action in France on March 20, 1915.
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L/Corporal Walter EMMOTT
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 5th Division
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Marriage Register of St Peter’s Church, Addingham, Yorkshire
Entry for the marriage of Walter Emmott to Florence Watts, 6 September 1913
Courtesy of West Yorkshire Archive Service
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20 November 1914
ADDINGHAM – From the Front
Private Walter Emmott, who was a reservist of the 3rd Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, and now serving with the Expeditionary Force in France, writing to his wife under date November 9th, says he is fit and well. He has not received any letters from his wife for a long time. She has, however, sent about six parcels, letters and postcards. Emmott was the well-known captain of the Addingham football team. Other members of the team who are serving their country are Corporal J. H. Brown, late secretary; Drivers Fred Watts and W. Pocklington, of the 4th West Riding Howitzer Brigade; and Private J. Kettlewell, Kitchener's Army.
09 April 1915
ADDINGHAM’S ROLL OF HONOUR
We regret to record the death of another Addingham soldier, Lance Corporal Walter Emmott, at the early age of 22. Mrs. Emmott received official notification on Wednesday the 31st ult. from York Infantry Office that her son had been killed in action on March 20th. The news cast a gloom over the village, for deceased was a well-known youth, particularly in the football world. He was a former captain of the local football club and his abilities on the field were well appreciated. Emmott, who was a reservist, was called up at the commencement of the war, and went to the front with the 2nd Battalion West Riding Regiment. A few days before being killed he was promoted to Lance Corporal. He leaves a widow and one child.
Before going to the war Lance Corporal Emmott was employed at one of Messrs. Lister and Co.’s silk mills at Addingham.
A message from the King stated: "The King commands me to assure you of the true sympathy of His Majesty and the Queen in your sorrow. – KITCHENER"
This is the fifth youth from Addingham who has lost his life during the war, and it is reported that two more are prisoners of war.
14 May 1915
SILSDEN & ADDINGHAM HEROES’ GRAVES
In reply to enquiries made by Mr. C. H. Fletcher- (military representative for Silsden) in respect to the burial of Corporal Emmott, of Addingham, and the placing of a cross on Private Ben Hodgson’s grave, Sergeant Scurry writes as follows:– “I am sorry I have not been able to answer your enquiry before, but no doubt you will have read about the busy time we have had lately. Corporal Emmott, of Addingham, is buried in the Brick Kiln Yard in the village of Zillebeke, and as to that cross you intended to send out to place on Private Ben Hodgson's grave, I am sorry to say we never know when we shall pass that particular spot again. Still, his grave is not without a cross. He has one made of wood put on, and also a bottle and note telling who he is and his regimental number, etc.”
04 June 1915
ADDINGHAM – How Lance Corpl. Emmott Died
Pte. F.R. Spencer, 2nd Duke of Wellington’s, in France writing to his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. J. Spencer, Bolton Road, Addingham, says: “I don’t think the war will last so long; at least they all seem to think so out here. It will be better for everybody the sooner it is over. We must beat them, and we shall.” In a letter to an Addingham friend, Spencer says: “I have been talking to a friend who was with Pont (meaning Lan. Corp. W. Emmott), and who saw him killed. He had been asleep in the trench, and was stretching his arms out, when he was hit by a sniper and killed. It was near Ypres.” Spencer was a playing member of the Addingham Football Team. There are about twelve of the team now serving.
03 September 1915
THE LATE PRIVATE SPENCER
Mr. and Mrs. John Spencer, of Bolton Road, Addingham, have received the following letter from Private Tim McCarthy in respect to the death of their son, Private Frank Spencer, 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, who has succumbed to wounds received in action.
“Dear Mr. and Mrs. Spencer, – It is with deep regret I am writing this letter to you. I am sorry to tell you the wounds Frank received that I told mother to tell you about have proved fatal. He died on the 12th of August. I can assure you that Frank had a peaceful end, and he was respectfully laid to rest. I hope and trust that you will bear it well, for you know that he gave his life for a great and honourable cause. Frank was well liked amongst all the men. I will send you his prayer book and a few letters he had in a few days. I quite realise it is hard to bear, but it is God's will. I am quite sure he will be happy from this world's sorrow and trials.
“From your sincere friend, Tim.”
McCarthy, who was an Ilkley young man, was with Spencer when he received his wound. Eight Addingham men have now given their lives for their King and Country. Frank was a playing member of the local football team, and he is the second member of the team to play his last great game, the previous one being the late Lance-Corporal W. Emmett, who was the captain. Other members of the team who are serving are:– J. H. Brown (secretary), W. Gale (treasurer and vice-captain), W. Brown, G. Gale and F. Watts are in the Wharfedale Howitzers; J. Kettlewell, Hy. Wade and G. Strickland are with Kitchener’s Army; A. Holmes, W. Ettenfield and T. Wade are serving in the Leeds Engineers.
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09 April 1915
ADDINGHAM MAN KILLED IN ACTION
The war has claimed its fourth victim from Addingham, the last man to die being Lance Corporal Walter Emmott, 2nd Battalion West Riding Regiment. The official notice was received from York Infantry office on Wednesday morning, stating that particulars had been received from the War Office that he had been killed in action, place not stated, on March 20th. The news of his death cast a gloom over the village. He was well known as captain of the football team, in which capacity he always rendered a good account of himself, being a dashing and resourceful full-back, his opponents always finding him a difficult problem to deal with. One cannot doubt that in the more serious game he was called upon to play he would do his part nobly and well.
14 May 1915
ADDINGHAM – BURIED IN FRANCE
Through the efforts of Mr. C.H. Fletcher, military representative for Silsden, Mrs. Emmott, the widow of the late Lance Corporal Walter Emmott, of Addingham, has received information that her husband was buried in the brick kiln yard in the village of Little Beke, on the frontier between France and Belgium, and that there is a wooden cross over his grave together with a bottle in which is a paper with his name, regiment and other particulars.
04 June 1915
LETTERS FROM ADDINGHAM MEN
Private F.R. Spencer, in a letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Spencer, Bolton Road, Addingham, says:– “I don’t think the war will last long, at least they don’t seem to think so out here. I hope so, for it is ‘Hell’s delight’. We must beat them, and we shall.”
In a letter to a friend he says:– I have been talking to a friend who was with Pont (meaning Lance Corporal W. Emmott) and who saw him killed. He had been asleep in the trench, and was just stretching his arms out when he was hit by a sniper.”
17 September 1015
ADDINGHAM SOLDIERS’ LETTERS
Mr.Flint has received the following letters in acknowledgement of parcels sent out:–
Bugler G. Strickland writes:– “Thanks for the parcel of cigarettes, which have arrived today. It is very hard lines about poor old Walter and Frank. When football is resumed on the Craven Heifer ground their faces will be sadly missed. I wonder who will be next of the old team to go… Thank the subscribers at Addingham for their kindness and thoughtfulness.”
24 December 1915
CRAVEN’S ROLL OF HONOUR – ADDINGHAM
Lance Corporal Walter Emmott, 2nd Battalion West Riding Regiment, killed in action in France on March 20th. Prior to the war he resided at Addingham and was captain of the football team. Employed at Lister and Company’s Low Mill, he was 22 years of age, and left a widow and young child.
14 April 1916
TO THE MEMORY OF ADDINGHAM COMRADES
The following lines have been written by Corpl. Sylvester Selby, R.E., of the British Expeditionary Force, France.
“To the memory of our dear comrades from Addingham who fought so valiantly, and died so nobly in the sacred cause of freedom, justice, and liberty.”
We shall meet our loved ones gone some sweet day bye and bye.
Be ye not weary in well doing, for in due season ye shall reap, if ye faint not.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more sorrow, neither death.”
LOVED ONES GONE
Have they gone for ever, from us,
Shall we never see them more,
Never catch the gleam of sunshine
As they did in days of yore?
Why have they been taken from us
In the fullness of their youth,
When all earth seemed full of gladness
To young hearts all full of life?
Dragged from home, and friends, and loved ones,
In far distant lands to fight
For the glory of old England,
And for honour, and for right!
On the burning plains of Egypt,
On the muddy fields of France,
On the watery bogs of Flanders,
British boys have done their part.
Done it nobly, never murmuring,
In the cause of freedom’s right,
Battles, of most bloody nature.
They have fought with gallant hearts.
Men of England! Men of Empire!
Rise in this our common cause!
Come, and smite this haughty tyrant,
That he may no more defile
Heaven’s good gifts and mankind’s God.
As we march along the country
And the devastation see,
Ruined churches, shattered houses,
Graves, with little crosses fixed.
Make us cry “O God, in Heaven,
Let us of Thy vengeance see;
Give us strength that we may carry
Justice right to victory.
Men of England! Men of Empire!
Come and help us in the strife;
Help to win a glorious victory
For the weak and for the right.
Onward, ever always onward,
Till the common task is done,
Till to those who have so suffered
In the cause of freedom’s right
Have been surely liberated
From the thraldom of his might,
Till for brothers, gone before us,
He has paid a fearful toll.
Shall we ever more behold them
In that told-of spirit land?
Where they say there is no sorrow,
Neither death shall be no more?
Let us each be all the stronger
In the hope of such great gain,
Let us carry on our labour,
Sure we’ll meet our friends again.
Corporal Sylvester Selby, R.E.
France, April 8th, 1916.
12 April 1918
CRAVEN AND THE WAR
Private A. Emmott Killed
We regret to record that Mrs. Emmott, of School Lane, Addingham, has received information from her daughter-in-law, who resides at Chatham, that her son, Pte. Ambrose Emmott, has been killed in action in France. The sad information was received from a chum, who said he was killed instantly on March 21st last. Pte. Emmott, who was 35 years of age, had been in the Royal Marines 17 years, and at the outbreak of hostilities served in the Dardanelles, and was transferred to France, where he was wounded in February, 1916. Mrs. Emmott’s youngest son, Lance-Corpl. Walter Emmott, was killed in action in France on March 20th, 1915. The deceased leaves a widow and two children.
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