George was born in Cardiff, Wales on January 10, 1920 – a reported dark and stormy night. He was the younger son of John William and Jane Isobel Emmerson and brother of William and Mary, who were 12 and 10 at the time George was born. The Emmerson family was from Robin Hoods Bay in Yorkshire. George came from a long line of ship owners and sea captains. George seemed to have other ideas about going to sea and always begged to be taken below the decks to inspect the machinery. A broader education was going to be needed to satisfy his curiosity and he was sent to high school, a rare gift in those days. At St. Illtyds, George was educated by the Christian brothers who believed that boys should play sports and they introduced George to rugby. George took to rugby like a duck to water. He went on to Cardiff Technical
College receiving a National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and continued to play rugby.
His career commenced serving an apprenticeship at the Bute and Channel Dry Dock, Cardiff, which he completed in 1941. Then came the war – all hands on deck. George was drafted not to play rugby, but into the British Merchant Marine during which time he obtained Chief Engineer Steam and Motor Certificates. His war time duty took him up and down the African coast, through the Suez Canal and into India as well as across the north and south Atlantic. During a return trip from Brazil, the St. Usk was torpedoed and sunk. The captain was taken aboard the submarine, which was later sunk by the U.S. Navy. The men of the St. Usk were left to adrift in two lifeboats. The men separated as one boat was motorized and one boat had only oars and a sail. Portuguese fishermen picked up the motorized boat after 4 days, and the other boat with George onboard plotted a course to Brazil, 600 miles away. After 8 days they were circled by a U. S. plane and after 10 days they sailed into port to a hero’s welcome.
He married his wife, Peggy, on November 5, 1946 and their daughter, Jane, was born in 1947. George came ashore and was employed by the Mount Stuart Dry Dock in Newport as an Assistant Ship Repair manager. He reigned in 1950 to join the staff of Lloyd’s Register of Shipping as an engineer surveyor. In 1952 he was recruited by the London Salvage Association and was appointed to the New York office. George and his family emigrated from Wales to the United States in 1952 and settled in New Jersey. When the St. Lawrence Seaway was opened, an additional office was opened in Chicago and George was appointed there. After 5 years, he was promoted to Principle Surveyor, a position which he held until he retired in 1985. Following his retirement, George and Peggy moved to Brunswick to be near their grandchildren. During his many moves, George was active in all aspects of church life. He and Peggy traveled worldwide for business and pleasure, but always considered Wales to be “home”. He was an avid reader and lover of crossword puzzles. He was a talented woodworker, gardener, and loved to play golf. He took up bread making when he retired and is locally quite famous for his “Welsh cakes”.
George was the last of the Emmersons from Robin Hoods Bay and was predeceased by his wife, Peggy, his parents, his brother and his sister.
He is survived by his daughter, Jane Campbell, and her husband Ron, of Brunswick; Rachel Morrison, her husband Mike and their sons, Jack and Ryan, of Woodbridge, VA; John Campbell, his wife Jen Craft and their daughter, Erin, of Cambridge, MA, and many nieces, nephews and their children and grandchildren.
A service to celebrate George’s life will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Brunswick to be announced. You are invited to share your condolences, photos and tributes with the Emmerson family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Simmons, Harrington & Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 975 Wiscasset Road, Boothbay, Maine, 04537.
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