Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Emerson, a builder and contractor, born 1854 in Wainfleet, Lincs., and his wife Elizabeth Emerson (nee Doolan, married q4 1889 in the Glanford Brigg, Lincs. district), born 1853 in Wrangle, Lincs. William Noel, who was a schoolboy, was born on the 25th January 1892 in Wing, Rutland, his siblings were, Walter P., a joiner, born 1884, Ivy, a dressmaker, born 1885 and Margaret Lilian, a schoolgirl, born 1888, the latter three siblings were all born in St. George’s Stamford, Lincs., in March 1901 the family home was at Northgate Street, Oakham, Rutland. In April 1911 William was employed as a bricklayer and was residing in the family home at Park View, Oakham, Rutland, together with his father, a builder’s foreman, his mother and sister Margaret, a milliner. William died in the 1st quarter of 1920, aged 28, in the Oakham, Rutland regsistration district. William enlisted into the Royal Navy for the period of hostilities on the 29th August 1917, and was allocated the service number K/45421 in Portsmouth, Hants. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5 inches in height and had a chest measurement of 35½ inches, his hair colour was brown and he had grey eyes, his complexion was described as fresh, he gave his trade or calling as bricklayer. His record of service began whe he joined HMS Victory II as a Stoker 2nd Class on the 29/8/17 – 8/4/18. HMS Amphitrite, 9/4/18 – 14/8/18, when he was promoted to Stoker 1st Class. HMS Amphitrite, 15/8/18 – 21/3/19, when he came ashore for demobilisation.