Roy was born in Richmond, VIC on the 26^th of June 1897 to Phillip Frank Emmett and Amy Madeline DeBoos.

click to enlarge
Courtesy of
National Library of Australia.
Record of war service
of bank and staff 1914-1919
National Bank of Australasia Limited.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.aus-vn4759636

Roy was a clerk at the National Bank of Australia in Bacchus Marsh, VIC when he enlisted in the AIF, 20^th Reinforcements, 8^th Battalion at Ballarat on the 3^rd of June 1916, aged just 19. He had previously served in the Cadets and Citizen Forces. Roy embarked aboard the HMAT A14 Euripides in August, disembarking at Plymouth, England in late October.

It was not until late September 1917 that Roy joined his unit in France and then one month later was wounded in action - a gunshot wound to the left leg - and was admitted to Woolwich Hospital in England in early November. In August 1918 he once again rejoined his unit in France and barely two weeks later was again wounded in action - gassed - and admitted to hospital in England - he was a bugler at the time.

In December 1918 Roy transferred to Headquarters AIF Depots in the UK and one month later was made a temporary Corporal. In April 1919 Roy was promoted to Extra Regimental Corporal. Roy embarked for Australia aboard the Port Sydney in late September - two days previous he had been declared an illegal absentee as from a month previous - there is no record of disciplinary action or when he returned from the absence. He returned to Australia in November and was discharged from the AIF in February 1920.

Roy enlisted in the Australian Army in April 1942 - service number V357136 - and served as a private with the 5^th Battalion, Volunteer Defence Corps until he was discharged in June 1943.

Roy Emmett died at Caufield, VIC in 1956, aged 58.

He is listed on the Roll of Honour for Bacchus Marsh, held by the RSL at Bacchus Marsh and also the Holy Trinity Church Roll of Honour held by the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Bacchus Marsh.

Notes

1. Service No. should be 6261
2. His service records show he was an Extra Regimental Corporal after the Avenue was planted.
3. He enlisted in the 8^th Battalion but later transferred to Headquarters AIF Depots in UK after the Avenue was planted.