| Last updated: Sun, 26 Apr 2026 |
| EMMS, Bernard Edward |
Family Historian Individual Narrative
Bernard Edward EMMS, son of Hezekiah EMMS (c. 1852-c. 1921) and Eliza CARMAN (c. 1863-c. 1908), was born on 21 May 1896 in North Lopham, Norfolk. The 1901 Census (held on 31 Mar 1901) shows Bernard at Great Common in North Lopham - 4, living with parents Hezekiah (49, ordinary agricultural labourer) and Eliza (38), and siblings Alice (16), Gertrude (14), Thomas (11, scholar) and Sydney (7, scholar). On 2 Apr 1911, (the 1911 Census), he was living at Great Common in North Lopham - 14, farm labour..... View full FH text (See notes below) View Family Tree (See notes below) |
| Birth: | 21.05.10896 : North Lopham, Norfolk : 1896 Q3 Guiltcross Norfolk Vol 4B Page 241 |
| Marriage: | 1931 to Rthel Grace BARHAM : 1931 Q2 Thetford Norfolk Vol 4B Page 827 |
| 1901 Census: | North Lopham, Norfolk : 4, living with parents Hezekiah (49, ordinary agricultural labourer) and Eliza (38), and siblings Alice (16), Gertrude (14), Thomas (11, scholar) and Sydney (7, scholar). (RG13 Piece 1866 Folio 13 Page 18 Schedule 123) |
| 1911 Census: | North Lopham, Norfolk : 14, farm labourer, living with father (widower, 59, farm labourer) ans brothers Thomas (20, farm labourer) and Sidney (17, farm labourer). (RG14 PN11745 RD239 SD2 ED18 SN148) |
| 1911 Census: | North Lopham, Norfolk : 25y 1m, unemployed labourer, living with brother and sister-in-law Thomas William (34, pensioner?) and Mabel Jane (28), and nephew Thomas Frederick (8m). (RG15 Piece 09901 Schedule 173 RD 239 RS 2 ED 18) |
| Death: | 1976 : Roydon, Norfolk : Aged 80 years. |
| Burial: | 20.09.1976 at Roydon, Norfolk |
| Elect. Roll: | In 1925 the Electoral Register showed Bernard living at Great Common in North Lopham - |
| Military: | Bernard was attested into the military on 30 November 1915. - and placed on the Army Reserve the next day. From 30 November 1915 to 5 June 1916 Bernard served on home soil. He was mobilized on 25 January 1916 and posted to the 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment on the 26.01.1916, Private 23319. On 6 June 1916 he was posted to 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment. After this he was posted to several sections of the Norfolks. From 6 June 1916 to 26 July 1916 he was with B.E.F. in France. He returned as a result of being wounded in the right leg on 24.07.1916. He was transferred on 23 February 1918 to the 661 Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps, private 529028. He was transferred on 12 March 1919 to Class “Z” Army Reserve on demobilization. |
| Newspaper: | Norfolk and Suffolk Journal and Diss Express, 14 Jun 1946,
A Winfarthing Accident.
In August 1944, Bernard Edward Emms, a farm worker, of Heath Road, Winfarthing, fell from a load of wheat on to his right side and hurt his hand, arm, shoulder and back of his neck. As a result he was awarded Compensation under the Workman&rsqquo;s Compensation Act. At the Court on Tuesday it was claimed by the Insurance Authorities, represented by Mr. R. W. Eades (Norwich), that now Emms was able to do a full day's work and was no longer entitled to £1 9s 6d (the amount he is paid) weekly as compensation.Mr. Mervyn Everett was for Emms.
William Gill, of Willow Farm, Sea Palling (Norfolk) and formerly farming at Winfarthing, said respondent was in his employment at the time of the accident and in employment when he (witness) left the district in Michaelmas of last year. After the accident he was away for four months but resumed work in late December, 1944, or early January, 1945, and was able to work four hours or so a day. He worked on anything that happened along, and it was not necessary to select the jobs. When he returned after his accident Emms asked for light work on a farm but witness pointed out there was no light work on a farm and he was lent to another farmer for light work, and he had also been lent out at various times while in Witness’ employ. His condition improved as time went on and at the latter end of witness' employment of him he appeared to be comparatively free from injury. He was paid half the normal wage prevailing at the time.
Cross-examined, he saw the accident and it was a hefty fall. Previous to the accident Emms had been in his employ for 16 months and was a strictly honest workman.
Dr. Raymond Noble gave evidence in detail of examinations on Emms on 28th. November, 1945, and 10th April this year. His conclusions were that his general health seemed quite good and he was in very good shape psychically. He could find no medical reason why he could not work more than four hours a day.
“Eager to Work.”
Emms told His Honour that he was 50 years of age, married with one child. After the accident he was in bed for a fortnight receiving treatment and he had subsequently had electrical treatment and massage at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, and examinations by various doctors. He worked up to two months ago, on an average four hours a day; lately he had averaged five hours. He had always worked a full week up to the time of the accident.
His Honour: How have you been able to increase from four to five hours? - I have been able to when I feel a little better.
Cross-examined: By and large there was no great improvement in his condition during the last 18 months. He was eager to work but his stiffness and soreness prevented him.
Roy Garrod, of Winfarthing, who is at present employing Emms, said his impression was that Emms was trying to do as much as he could, and he had been able to do a bit more in the last month or two. He complained a good bit about his shouldler aching. He was employed chiefly trimming hedges and odd jobs and was paid wages varing from 30s to £2 weekly.
Sir Ambrose Woodall, surgeon of London, gave evidence of examining Emms in February and September of last year. He detailed his observations and said he believed Emms' condition was consistent with his statement that he was doing as much as he could. He told witness he had rheumatic fever in 1916, and in a person with rheumatic tendencies the effects of an accident such as Emms would be more persistent than in an ordinary person, even if the illness was not within a short period of the accident.
His Honour summed up at length and said he has come to the conclusion on the evidence before him that Emms was honestly doing all he could do. The application by the plaintiffs would, therefore, be dismissed.
|
| SQL: SELECT * FROM TotalInfo WHERE Ref = 126 |
