261282 2nd Lt. Douglas Kemp MC.British Army 470th Field Coy. Royal Engineers (d.23rd Mar 1918) Douglas Kemp was born in his grandparents’ home at 27, Princes Street, Ryde, Isle of Wight on 10th August 1892, the second child to Sydney Thomas Kemp and his wife Emily (nee Hayden). He spent his early years on the island, and from the age of 11 to 16 was educated at the Isle of Wight County Secondary School in Sandown. When he left school he became an articled apprentice for three years to a Mr. C. Mathews - a civil engineer, the Borough Surveyor of Ryde. During that time he was involved in estimating, and construction, and worked on sundry drainage, building and water supply schemes. (The 1911 Census shows him as living at home with his parents in Temple House, George Street, Ryde, where his occupation is given as being an architect's assistant). Having completed his apprenticeship, for twelve months or so, Douglas was paid 25 shillings a week by a Mr. Barton, and worked on some sanitary engineering, and a small town planning scheme in Ryde. In 1913 (probably around May) he moved to London, where up to July 1914 he was employed under the Borough Surveyor of Paddington, mostly reinforcing concrete on bridges. When war was declared in August 1914, he was working under Mr. Wilson (civil engineer) on the pier harbour at Thames Haven.
Aged 17, Douglas first became a soldier in the Royal Engineers in October 1909 when he enlisted at Ryde as a Sapper in the Hampshire (Fortress) RE, Territorial Force. In June 1913, he transferred to the London Electrical Engineers RE (T) as a Sapper, qualifying as a "skilled electrician" in July 1914, and a "superior electrician" in August 1916.
When the war broke out, Douglas was assigned to the 3rd Company, London Electrical Engineers and detailed to searchlight work at Dover. In December 1914, he was promoted to Acting 2nd Corporal, then in August 1915 to Acting Corporal. On 19th September 1915 he joined the British Expeditionary Force in France, where he spent some time attached to the 1/2nd Home Counties Field Company RE; and to the 1/3rd London Field Company RE in the searchlight detachment, where he was employed in general duties in the field. His rank as Corporal was made substantive on 2nd December 1915.
On 12th May 1916, Douglas returned to England for searchlight work with the L.E.E. In June 1916, he moved to SE Section L.A.D. He returned in January 1917, shortly before being attached to the RE Cadet School in Deganwy, Wales. On receiving a temporary commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, he was discharged from the L.E.E on 31st March 1917. As that rank, he served with the 470th Field Company (renamed from 3/1st North Midland) RE (T) in France.
On 9th of February 1918, Douglas was decorated with the Military Cross. The citation which was published in the London Gazette reads: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an enemy attack, he took charge of a party and held his position with great courage and coolness until reinforcements arrived. He then took part in a counter-attack and assisted in capturing an important trench which he held until relieved. He showed splendid initiative and determination at a critical time".
The award of the Military Cross relates to the associated actions of the battle of Cambrai (20th November to 30th December 1917), when on 30th November 1917 the Germans launched an attack on the area surrounding the village of Gouzeaucourt.
On the 21st of March 1918, when the Germans launched their Spring Offensive, Douglas was taken prisoner of war at Noreuil. He died from a leg wound on 23rd March 1918 whilst in a German field hospital at Quéant. He was buried in a mass grave in a German cemetery there, and is commemorated in the H. A. C. Cemetery in Ecoust-St. Mein.
He was unmarried and had no children.
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