Lionel Emmett studied at St. George’s College at Mussoorie, India, where he played the forward position on the school team. He later went to Medical College, Bengal (later Medical College, Kolkata). During World War II he served in the Indian Army Medical Corps, was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire), a Military Cross, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. After the war Emmett worked as a general physician in the team plantations of Assam. He also worked in medical research and held a patient for an intrauterine conceptive device. His hobby was hunting and Emmett had a license to shoot rogue tigers and elephants.