Kemp, James Ogilvie
Rank: Captain (Acting Lieutenant-Colonel)
Regiment: 1st Labour Corps
Biography: Son of John Kemp, wine merchant and lime manufacturer ; born Keith, 5 August 1865 ; educated at Keith and the Grammar School, Aberdeen ; graduated M.A., 1886; admitted to the Faculty of Advocates, Edinburgh, 1889, where he held a good practice until he left for service shortly after the outbreak of war. Under Lord Advocate Murray, Kemp held the posts of Sheriff Court Depute and Extra Advocate Depute ; and in 1899 and 1900 was interim sheriff substitute at Banff. For a number of years he was a member of the Parish Council and District Lunacy Board, St. Stephen's Ward, Edinburgh. In 1898 Kemp obtained a commission in the Queen's Edinburgh Rifle Volunteer Brigade, The Royal Scots, in which he served until 1911, attaining the rank of Captain. For many years he was instructor of musketry to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Brigade. Owing to ill health he resigned his commission in 1911, and in September 1914 joined the 2/5th Royal Scots ; subsequently he was attached to the 19th Battalion and then to the 1st Labour Corps. He gained the substantive rank of Captain and was Acting Lieutenant-Colonel. Kemp served in France at Abancourt and in Belgium near Dickebush and at Hazebrouck, and died, 12 December 1917, of illness contracted while on active service. He had a fine military record in his family as he and his three sons were all on service at the same time.
Date of Death: 12 December 1917
Burial Details: Buried at Crosthwaite (St. Kentigern) Churchyard, Cumberland, E. 204.
Publication: Roll of Service, edited by Mabel Desborough Allardyce. Published 1921.
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