Emery, Douglas James

964 Private Douglas James Emery MM - 11th Battalion AIF

Douglas James Emery was born in Hawthorn Victoria to Isaac and Isabella Emery on 6th June 1896. He had twelve siblings but tragically six died at an early age. 

Not long after Doug was born the family moved across to Western Australia and initially took up residence in Midland Junction before moving to Fremantle and taking up residence with his Aunt in 80 Hampton Road Fremantle.

After leaving school Douglas took up training as a butcher and during this time he also saw service with the 86A Cadets and then the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.

On the 4th September 1914, Doug went to the recruitment office and enlisted into the AIF. He was passed as fit for service with the medical examiner recording Doug's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 5 & 1/4 inches tall;

Weight - 140lbs;

Chest Measurement - 34-36 inches;

Complexion - Dark;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Dark Brown.

After the successful enlistment Doug was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 11th Battalion.

Doug trained with the 11th Battalion for the next few months while they waited for their embarkation orders to arrive. The 11th Battalion boarded the transport ship HMAT Medic in Fremantle Harbour on the 31st October 1914. The ship then pulled out into Gage Roads for two days and set sail on the 2nd November 1914.

The journey to Egypt took over three weeks and after arriving the men were marched to near Cairo where they set up camp at Mena near the pyramids.

The 11th Battalion trained in Egypt for the next few months and in March 1915 were shipped off to Lemnos Island to continue their training. Lemnos is a Greek island off the Turkish coast. During this training Doug was injured when he sprained his ankle and he was admitted to No.1 Australian Stationary Hospital. Due to his injury Doug was temporarily transferred out of the 11th Bn to the reinforcement group and may not have taken part in the landing at Gallipoli on the 25th April 1915, however the records are sketchy back then.

Doug officially joined the 11th Battalion at Anzac on the 7th May 1915 and he served through to the 6th August 1915 when he was evacuated with illness. Doug was diagnosed as suffering from dysentery and was sent to hospital in Cairo. This would keep him out of action for the next few months and he only rejoined the 11th Battalion on the 7th January 1916 when the unit had returned to Egypt.

On the 29th March 1916 Doug and the 11th Battalion left Egypt for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 5th April 1916. They were then sent up to the north of France and having their first experience of Western Front trench life at Armentieres. Doug spent the next few months in this sector.

In July 1916 the 11th Battalion moved to the Somme region where the British and French had begun an offensive on July 1st 1916. The 11th Battalion was involved in the capture of Pozieres Village on July 23rd 1916 and subsequent operations against Mouquet Farm in August 1916.

Doug survived these attacks though casualties in his unit had been heavy. Doug served with the 11th Battalion until the 4th February 1917 when he was evacuated sick and had a few weeks out of the line.

When he rejoined the 11th Battalion Douglas was appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal. He then served with the 11th Battalion for the rest of the year, seeing action at Lagnicourt in April 1917 and Bullecourt in May 1917.

The 11th Battalion then had a three month break out of the line but returned in September 1917 and took part in the Third Battle of Ypres in September and October 1917. Douglas again emerged unscathed despite heavy casualties in his unit.

From November 1917 to March 1918, the 11th Battalion held the front line in the sector between Messines and Ypres Belgium.

As a result of the German offensive of March 21st 1918 when they broke through the British front in the southern sector, the five Australian divisions were sent to the Somme to help stop this advance. The 11th Battalion, as part of the 1st Australian Division was the last of the divisions to leave Belgium and had just arrived near Amiens when the Germans broke through the line in Belgium and made a speedy advance into northern France. The 1st Australian Division was then returned north and met the Germans around Hazebrouck, Meteren and Merris and for the next few months were in action here.

On the 22nd June 1918 Doug took part in a raid on the Germans and due to his bravery he was recommended for the Military Medal. The recommendation reads; 

At Mont de Merris on 22nd June 1918 during a raid by a part of 1 officer and 18 other ranks, on a house occupied by the enemy, Lance Corporal Emery showed gallantry and devotion to duty. On the approach of our party the enemy withdrew under cover of their machine gun fire. Together with the OC of the party, Lance Corporal Emery crossed the enemy machine gun barrage and rushed down a covered way where the enemy had disappeared. Three of the enemy were encountered, one of whom Lance Corporal Emery wounded and captured and brought into our lines. Throughout the whole raid he rendered his officer loyal and gallant assistance.

Doug was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery.

On the 31st July 1918 Douglas was appointed to the rank of Corporal. Shortly after this the 11th Battalion was moved south to Villers-Bretonneux where they would take part in the large advance that was due to take place on August 8th 1918.

The 11th Battalion didn't take part in the first day of the advance but went into the line on the 9th August 1918 and on the following day attacked the German positions at Lihons. The Germans had well entrenched positions and unleashed a heavy machine gun fire on the advancing men of the 11th Battalion. Many of the 11th Battalion were killed and wounded by this fire but Doug had survived the action yet again.

Doug served with the 11th Battalion till the 29th August 1918 when he was sent for a break at a school of instruction, only returning to the 11th Battalion on the 4th October 1918.

Due to Doug being an original enlistee, he qualified for Anzac Leave, which was a six month break in Australia for those men who had enlisted in 1914.

Doug then returned to England and boarded a transport ship on the 23rd October 1918, reaching Fremantle on the 12th December 1918. Doug was discharged from the AIF on the 17th February 1919.

On his return to Fremantle, Doug returned to his butchers employment and moved to Victoria Road East Fremantle before moving to Staton Road.

In 1922 Douglas had married Margaret Reeves in Fremantle.

Douglas died in East Fremantle on the 30th January 1940 aged 43 and he is buried in Karrakatta Cemetery.