EMMS John William Andrews

The birth of John William A. Emms is registered in the March Quarter 1895 under the Evesham Registration District.

Son of John and Ellen Emms of Stockford Buildings, South Littleton. Occupation: Market Gardener.

The following report appears in the Evesham Journal, 26th August 1916:
Mr and Mrs John Emms of Middle Littleton have received official information of the death of their eldest son, Corporal John William Andrews Emms who was killed in action on July 20th.  He was 21 years of age.  He joined the Worcesters when he was 17 but was subsequently discharged from the army.  On the outbreak of war, he joined the Hussars and subsequently transferred to the East Surreys.  He went abroad in July last year and was wounded at La Bassee.  In August he came home to England to hospital and was in a convalescent home till March, when he came home on short leave and then returned to the fighting line.  A fortnight ago, his parents received a letter from a comrade stating that he had been killed.  The War Office was communicated with, but replied that no official news had come to hand that he had been killed.  On Wednesday morning, Mr and Mrs Emms received the official information.  A comrade has informed them that Corporal Emms was killed by a shell with three others, trying to save a wounded comrade.  A rough cross has been put over the grave. Mr and Mrs Emms have another son on service, Private Ralph Emms of the Worcesters.

A photograph of Corporal J. Emms of Littleton can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 9th September 1916, available at Worcestershire Archives.