Category: Military
Rank: Farrier-Sergeant
Regiment or Ship: 6th Sussex Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
Occupation: General labourer
Date of Birth: 1883
Place of Birth: Hollington, Hastings, Sussex
Address: 68 Windsor Road, Bexhill
Photos and newspaper articles
Click on any image to see a larger version
Family Information
Spouse: Alfred married Rose Ellen Mitchell (1884-) in 1907 in the Battle registration district. They had two children: Alfred William Henry, b. 1909 in Bexhill, and Rose Ellen Elizabeth, b. 1910 in Bexhill.
The family lived at Aldrington Villa, 77 Reginald Road, Bexhill on Sea, from 1909 until 1916 when they went to live at 68 Windsor Road. By 1918 they had moved to 16 Western Road.
First World War Experience
We do not have a great deal of confirmed details of Alfred’s war service except for three articles appearing in local newspapers.
The first – dated 13th March 1915 – shows a photograph of Alfred with the following legend:
“Bomb. A. Kemp, 77 Reginald Road, is in India with the 6th Sussex RFA (T).”
The second – dated 1st January 1916 – is a letter to the newspaper from his wife and reads:-
“Thanks To Kind Friends”
To the Editor of the “Bexhill Observer”
Dear Sir – I feel it is my duty to write to thank you, also the kind friends, for my children’s Christmas presents. I am sure that my husband, who is still in India serving his King and Country, will be very pleased to hear that they were thought of.
Again thanking you one and all.
I remain
Yours sincerely
(Mrs) A. Kemp
68 Windsor-road.
The third article – dated 5th January 1918 – tells us that:-
“Farrier-Sergeant Kemp, R.F.A., who went with the local Territorial Artillery, to India in October 1914, has arrived in Bexhill for ten days leave. Owing to an accident he parted company with his comrades in September last at Jubbulpore, and came home while they went to Mesopotamia.”
No Medal Rolls details can be confirmed for Alfred but it could be assumed that he would have received the 14 Star, together with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.