Joseph Petrie Kemp

Joseph Petrie Kemp

Royal Army Service Corps

Died 4th November 1918

Private J. P. Kemp  –  R.A.S.C.

Joseph Petrie Kemp was born at Aboyne on 17 February 1889. He was the son of Albert Kemp, woollen manufacturer who was born at Leochel Cushnie, and Annie Winks Kemp (nee Petrie), born Kincardine O’Neil. In 1891 the family were living at Waulkmill, Dess. In 1901 he was the eldest child living in the household at Gordon Mills, Aboyne on census night, having four younger brothers and two sisters. By 1911 the family were at 61 Cross Street, Fraserburgh. They had clearly begun a relationship with the new-fangled motor car, as Albert was working as a doctor’s chauffeur and Joseph as a domestic chauffeur. On 4 April 1913, at Glasgow, Joseph Kemp married Janet Mason Young, known as Jenny and described on their marriage certificate as a Vocalist. 

By 1916 Joseph Kemp was working for the Royal Hotel, Fraserburgh, as appears from a report in the Aberdeen Journal on 19 April 1916 about a meeting of the conscription appeal tribunal before Provost Finlayson. Among other things it was noted that “Joseph Kemp (29), motorman at the Royal Hotel, was appealed for by his employer, Mr Alex. Davidson, who said Kemp was a married man, and had three brothers serving…..”. Conditional (and presumably temporary) exemption was granted, but in due course Kemp was recruited to the Royal Army Service Corps (M338240) and the 42nd Motor Ambulance Convoy.  

On 18 November 1918 the Aberdeen Journal carried the following news of Private Kemp’s death two weeks previously on 4 November 1918: “Private Joseph Kemp, motor transport, A.S.C…… was formerly chauffeur at the Royal Hotel, Fraserburgh. His wife and children reside in Glasgow”.  The children were Agnes aged 5 and Joseph aged 3, and Mrs Kemp was living at 791 Gallowgate, Glasgow. The Aberdeen Weekly Journal of 27 December 1918 has a photo of Kemp wearing goggles over his cap at a rakish angle – one of several occupying much of a full page spread under the heading “DIED FOR KING AND COUNTRY”. 

He is buried or commemorated at Étaples Military Cemetery.

In July 1919 this soldier was honoured as a member of Solomon Lodge, along with 46 other members of local masonic lodges, at a memorial service in Fraserburgh Parish Church conducted by five ministers of the town with the Fraserburgh Pipe Band.

Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in the Great War [NB National Archives say enlisted Glasgow; Naval and Military Press say enlisted Fraserburgh]
Register of births
Censuses 1891 – 1911
Aberdeen Journal 19 April 1916
Aberdeen Journal 18 November 1916
Aberdeen Weekly Journal 27 December 1918
Aberdeen Journal 15 July 1919
Aberdeen Weekly Journal 18 July 1919