George Kemp
Rank: Private
Service No: S/12599
Place of Birth: Covesea, Elginshire
Date of Death: 24/04/1917
Theatre of Death: F&F
Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (14th Bn.)
Memorial: Thiepval Memorial
Rutherglen Lore information: Son of Mrs. Kemp, Hawthorn Road, Elgin.
Soldier’s Effects information: Mother Isabella and brother Peter.
De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour information: 3rd son of the late Peter Kemp of Dipple, Fochabers, Farm Manager by his wife Isabella (38 Hawthorn Road, Elgin), dau. Of James Sellar; b. Drainie, Moray 30th October 1889; educ. Milne’s Institute, Fochabers; was a Constable in the Lanarkshire Constabulary; enlisted in July, 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from June 1916 and was killed in action at Beauchamp, between Cambrai and Peronne, 24th April 1917. Buried there. A comrade wrote: “He was acting as stretcher-bearer and was killed by a bursting shell while bandaging up a wounded man in a shell-hole. All the boys are giving him the highest praise for the good work he did in the early stages of the attack.
1901 census information:
Address: Dipple Cottages, Speymouth.
Father: Peter (45) farm grieve, born about 1856 in Mortlach, Banffshire.
Mother: Isabella (45) born about 1856 in Mortlach, Banffshire.
Sister: Annie (24) born about 1877 in Glass, Aberdeenshire.
Brother: Alexander (14) born about 1887 in Drainie, Morayshire.
Brother: Peter (13) born about 1888 in Drainie, Morayshire.
Self: George (9) born about 1890 in Drainie, Morayshire.
Brother: William (7) born about 1894 in New Elgin.
Brother: John (6) born about 1895 in Speymouth.
Sister: Mary Jean Kemp (4) born about 1897 in Speymouth.
Newspaper transcript – Lanarkshire Policeman Killed. Mrs Kemp, 38 Hawthorn Road, Elgin, has received intimation that her son, 12599, Private George Kemp, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was killed in action on 24th April. Prior to enlistment, in August 1915, her was a member of the Lanarkshire Constabulary, and was stationed in Motherwell and Rutherglen. He went with his battalion to France in June 1916, and was there until the time of his death. He belonged to a patriotic family, three brothers being still with the colours. Acting-Inspector Kemp, Lanarkshire Constabulary, Bellshill, is also a brother.
Newspaper transcript – Pte. Geo. Kemp, Rutherglen. Mrs Kemp, Hawthorn Road, Elgin, has received intimation that her son, Pte, George Kemp, A. and S.H., was killed in action on April 24. Prior to enlistment he was a member of the Rutherglen Police.
Also commemorated on the memorial in Rutherglen Old Parish Church, Lanarkshire Constabulary Memorial, Hamilton and Elgin War Memorial.