Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Doctor William Lindsay Emmerson, M.R.C.S. Eng., L.S.A.L. Lic. Med. Dunsh., a surgeon, general practitioner, born 1852 in Tynemouth, Northumberland and his wife Sarah Jane Emmerson (nee Morton, married in the 3rd quarter of 1877 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1850 in Huncote, Leicestershire, who was the daughter of the late William Morton of Oakham, Rutland. Henry Hetherington, was born 19th October 1880, in Waltham on the Wolds, Leicestershire, he had one sibling, William Morton, born 1879 in Waltham on the Wolds, in April 1881 the family home was at High Street, Waltham on the Wolds. In April 1891 Henry was absent from the family home at The Surgery, Main Street, Waltham on the Wolds, residing there was his father a general medical practitioner, his mother and sibling, Alice Mary, a schoolgirl, born 1884 in Waltham on the Wolds. Henry was a pupil and was residing at Chapel Street, Syston, Leicestershire, together with his siblings, William and Howard Lindsay, a pupil, born 1882 in Waltham on the Wolds, this being the family home of his maternal Aunt, Louisa Morton, a school mistress, born 1843 in Little Bowden, Northamptonshire, and her sister Fanny Higginson Morton, a house keeper, born 1848 in Huncote. In March 1901 Henry was absent from the family home at 2, Danes Hill Road, Leicester, residing there was his father, a medical practitioner, his mother and siblings, Alice, a schoolgirl and Kathleen Amy, born 1892 in Waltham on the Wolds, also residing in the family home was Henry’s maternal Aunt, Mary Anne Morton, born 1837 in Hinckley, Leicestershire, Henry was serving with the Leicester Volunteers in South Africa. Henry was educated privately and at Wyggeston Grammar School, Leicester, and was subsequently apprenticed as an engineer. He joined the Leicester Volunteers in 1896 and served in the South African War from 1899 to 1902 and was awarded the Queen’s Medal with three clasps and the King’s Medal. He was a Musketry Instructor at Hythe after the termination of hostilities, but seeing no prospect of further service abroad, resigned his commission and went to Argentina where he was engaged in agricultural engineering, and afterwards in ranching. He returned to England after the outbreak of the European war, was gazetted Lieutenant and appointed Adjutant to the 10th Battalion on the Leicestershire Regiment on the 3rd November 1914. He was promoted Captain in January 1915, and Major and Second in Command in January 1916. He served with the Expeditionary Force in France from the 25th August 1916, being attached to the 6th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment, and was killed in action during the fighting on the Somme on the 26th September 1916 while leading a Company. He was buried south of Gueudecourt, France. Colonel Challenor, D.S.O. wrote, “He had not been very long with me, but quite long enough for me to recognize his splendid qualities. He is a great loss to us.” And Colonel Cowley wrote, “I looked upon him as one of my best officers.” Henry was unmarried.
The War Diary records: 25 Sep-16 - BERNAFAY WOOD. The Battalion moved up to assembly trenches at 4.00am, 25th September, leaving behind 60 men to act as carriers.
The operations from the 25th to the 29th September 1916 appended.
OPERATIONS ON THE SOMME FROM 25th September to the 30th September 1916. Appendix II.
25th September. The Battalion started from BERNAFAY WOOD at 4.00am, marched through DELVILLE WOOD, and occupied trenches as follows by 6.00am. Headquarters and “D” Company SWITCH TRENCH, “A,” “B” and “C” Companies assembly trenches behind SWITCH TRENCH. The Battalion remained in these trenches till 1.00pm. (Zero being 12.25pm). At 1.00pm “D” and “C” Companies advanced across the open to follow up and occupy trenches vacated by the 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT as they advanced, and to support and reinforce them in case of necessity. Two platoons of “D” Company and two platoons of “C” Company reinforced the 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT when they were attacked by enemy machine guns in GIRD TRENCH, and they had a good many casualties from these machine guns, Major H. H. EMMERSON (Officer Commanding “C” Company) being killed, and Captain QUAYLE (Officer Commanding “D” Company) wounded. At 2.00pm Headquarters and “A” and “B” Companies advanced in artillery formation, as wounded men stated that the 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT were in the village. Battalion Headquarters were established in BULL ROAD TRENCH, and the Battalion was disposed as follows:- Two platoons of “D” Company in PIONEER TRENCH, with oddments of 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT “A” Company and the remainder of “C” and “D” Companies in BULL ROAD TRENCH. “B” Company in BULL ROAD support. They remained in these positions during the night of 25th/26th, and these trenches were very heavily shelled during the night.
26th September. The Battalion advanced at 4.30pm preceded by patrols to take the final objective on the northern and eastern outskirts of GUEDECOURT. The barrage was fairly heavy and some few casualties took place. The leading platoons entered the village about 6.30pm and the village was not then being shelled by the enemy. No enemy were encountered in the southern portion of village, but the leading platoons, on reaching the LESBOEUFS - FACTORY CORNER ROAD through village, were heavily sniped and fired at by enemy machine guns. They held on to this line till dusk, when they were at once reinforced by the other platoons, and moved forward with very slight casualties to the orchards on the northern and eastern outskirts of village, and began consolidating. This was continued throughout the night with very slight molestation from enemy. The village itself and approaches to it, and especially its south western edge were, however, very heavily shelled. Headquarters were established at N.26.d.2.8. Touch was established with 62nd Infantry Brigade on the right at N.27.a.5.0., but it was till the morning of the 27th that connection was gained with the 55th Division on the left.
27th September. Consolidation was continued as far as possible by daylight, and during the night the posts on the northern edge were connected up. There was a certain amount of sniping, but the trenches were not heavily shelled. The village itself, and approaches to it were heavily shelled but very few casualties were sustained, as no troops were in the village.
28th September. Situation remained the same. At midnight a strong patrol under 2nd Lieutenant J. B. GARNER and a party of Pioneers went out to GARDEN TRENCH, and made a small post with blocks on either side to deny its occupation by the enemy.
29th September. Situation same. At 9.00pm the Battalion was relieved by the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT The relief was complete by 11.30pm. A certain number of casualties were caused to both Battalion’s by enemy’s bombardment of village and its approaches.
30th September. The Battalion returned to its former bivouac near BERNAFAY WOOD, arriving there at 1.00am. The casualties suffered by the Battalion during these operations, were as follows:-
Officers killed Major H. H. EMMERSON, Captain G. M. G. GILLETT, 2nd Lieutenant W. E. ROBINSON. Officers wounded Captain G. A. QUAYLE, Lieutenant A. V. DAGG, Lieutenant F. WOOLNOUGH, 2nd Lieutenant’s. A. C. NICHOLLS, C. H. HIGSON, A. M. DIXON, E. G. LANE–ROBERTS, E. J. HODGSON, F. GILDING and G. H. BOWEN. Other ranks killed 32, missing 25 and wounded 141.
On Friday October 13th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “WALTHAM.” – LOCAL OFFICERS KILLED. It is with great regret we record that Major H. H. Emmerson was killed in action on September 25th. Dr. Emmerson, his father, late of Waltham, formerly Captain in the Belvoir Volunteers, received the following letter from Lieut. Col. E. L. Challoner:- “Your son was killed while leading his company very gallantly. He was shot through the head and killed instantly. He had not been long with me, but quite long enough for me to realise his splendid qualities.” Major Emmerson was 35 years of age, born at Waltham, where he resided till 12 years of age – Capt. Geo. M. G. Gillett, of the Leicester’s recently killed, was the son of the late Rev. H. Gillett, curate at Waltham, and grandson of the late Rev. G. Gillett, J.P., rector of Waltham for 40 years. The deceased was 20 years of age.
On the 31st January 1920 the Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys in Leicester published a Roll of Honour of former pupils, this records that Henry attended the school from the 19th January 1892 but does not give a date when he left the school.