Born into a family of generations of mariners, Albert John Emptage earnt his living by the sea, having begun to work with boats at the age of eight. Whilst he had a turbulent domestic life, his skill at sea was undisputed. Albert was a member of the Margate lifeboat service for 40 years, many of them as coxswain. It was not just his height which made him a ‘giant of a man’.
Frederick John Emptage
A difficult childhood and an army career in which he obtained three good conduct badges. But his conduct as a civilian was questionable, as one young lady was to find out. But was there a happy ending?
Edward Joseph Emptage
Edward enlisted as a private in the South Eastern Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance, part of the Royal Army Medical Corps, in August 1914. The Field Ambulance was a mobile front line medical unit manned by troops of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Edward saw service in Gallipoli, and France, working in unimaginable conditions.
Borough Surveyor Charged With Assault
Thanet Advertiser 10th April 1869.
Edward Robert Emptage and Stephen John Emptage were witnesses in an almost ludicrous assault case brought against the Borough Surveyor.
Charged with stealing biscuits
South Eastern Gazette 28th October 1856.
Petty Sessions, Monday 27th October.
Albert John Emptage and John Martin, two lads under ten years old, were charged by the owners of the “Ondine” fishing lugger, with stealing a quantity of biscuits from that vessel.
Edward Lindsey Emptage 1892 – 1966
Edward’s twin brother died in World War 1 but Edward survived. He was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre in the process but at what cost to himself and to his family?
His son David begins to understand his father’s emotional distance.