Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1916 ‘Somme’ M.M. group of three awarded to Company Sergeant Major C. T. Emerson, 15th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, taken prisoner of war at Bullecourt, 11 April 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (2361 L. Cpl. C. T. Emerson. 15/Aust: Inf: Bn:); British War and Victory Medals (2361 W O 2. C. T. Emerson. 15 Bn. A.I.F.) nearly extremely fine (3) £700-900

M.M. London Gazette 16 November 1916. The original recommendation states:

‘During operations north west of Pozieres from 5th to 10th August [1916], and particularly during the nights of 8th and 9th August, he displayed the utmost skill and courage on scouting close to German lines and bringing back valuable information.’

C. T. Emerson was born in Shotts, Scotland, in 1893. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Brisbane on 31 July 1915, and was posted to the 15th Australian Infantry Battalion. He went with the battalion to Gallipoli in November 1915, and to Egypt the following month. He served with the battalion as part of the 4th Australian Brigade, 4th Australian Division in the French theatre of war from June 1916.

Emerson served with the 15th Battalion on the Somme, and was awarded his M.M. for gallantry in operations in and around Pozieres, 5 - 10 August 1916. The battalion’s War Diary gives fighting as particularly fierce between the dates mentioned, and as suffering casualties of 3 officers and 45 other ranks killed, 12 officers and 325 other ranks wounded, and 45 other ranks missing.

The 15th Battalion were once again in the thick of it at Bullecourt in April 1917. Emerson, by now a Company Sergeant Major, was taken prisoner of war at Bullecourt, 11 April 1917. He was interned in Germany, before being repatriated to the UK 26 December 1918. He returned to Australia in H.M.A.T. Khyber, and was discharged 13 July 1919.