Pte 57651 Bertram Kemp

• Age: 27
• From: Leeds, Yorks
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 26th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Cherisy Rd East Cem, Heninel
  Panel Ref: 15

Bertram was born in 1890 at Leeds. He was the son of William Herbert Kemp and his wife Sarah Ann (nee Kinder) of Hinde Cottage, Cross Gates, Leeds. 

The 1891 Census shows the family living at Rock Terrace, Leeds, Yorkshire. His father William Herbert aged 26, born in Leeds in 1865 is a printer, his mother, Sarah Ann, also aged 26, born 1865 in Glossop, Derbyshire no occupation listed. They have one child Bertram aged 1, born 1890 in Leeds.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 37, Newcombe Street, Walton on the Hill, Liverpool. His father, William Herbert ,aged 35, (now showing born 1865) is a compositor and his wife Sarah Ann is aged 36 and has no occupation listed. They have three children, Bertram aged 11, Horace aged 9, born 1892 in Leeds and Cyril aged 1, born 1900 in Liverpool.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at Hinde Cottage Crossgates, Barwick in Elmet, Yorkshire. His father William Herbert aged 45 is a compositor and his wife Sarah Ann is aged 46 and has no occupation listed. They have been married for twenty two years and had nine children of which five had died. Their four children are all living at home at the time of the Census; Bertram aged 21, is employed as a clerk in a grocer’s warehouse, Horace aged 19, is an assistant in a grocer’s shop, Cyril aged 11 and Norman aged 9, born 1902 are both at school. They also have their father in law, William Kinder, a widower aged 72, born 1839 in Stockport, Cheshire who is a retired insurance agent living with them.

Skyrack Courier of 22nd October 1915:

CROSSGATES WESLEYAN INSITUTE

32 Members In The Country's Service

The annual general meeting of the Crossgates Wesleyan Institute was held in the billiard room on Saturday evening, and there was a representative gathering. Mr J. H. Walker (president) was in the chair after the singing of the National Anthem, the acting secretary (Mr J. C. White) referred to the splendid service rendered by the secretary (Mr Bertram Kemp) who having joined the Army and become attached to the Cyclist Corps, was unable to be present.

Bertram enlisted in Leeds originally joining the West Riding Divisional Cyclist Company as Private 61. He was subsequently transferred to the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 57651.

He was killed in action on 26th April, 1917, aged 27. 

The 18th Battalion diary does not feature any casualties on 26th April 1917.
 
He now rests at Cherisy Road East Cemetery, Heninel, France where he shares a headstone with Joseph Strawson also of the 18th Battalion who was killed on the same day. 

Bertram's headstone bears the epitaph:

"IN JESU'S KEEPING" 

The village of Heninel was captured in a snowstorm on 12 April 1917 by the 56th (London) and 21st Division. The 50th (Northumbrian) Division, advancing from Heninel on the two following days, captured Wancourt Tower. Cherisy Road East Cemetery was made by the 30th and 33rd Division Burial Officers in April 1917. The cemetery contains 82 First World War burials, 19 of which are unidentified.

His death was reported in the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer on 11th May 1917

The following Leeds men have been killed in action, or died of wounds:-

Pte B. Kemp King's (Liverpool) Regiment, formerly of the W.R Cyclist Company, eldest son of Mr W. H. Kemp, Crossgate

Probate was granted on 12th June 1917 to his father William Herbert Kemp. 

Soldiers Effects to father William H. and pension of Bertram and brother Horace went to mother Sarah Ann.

The Skyrack Courier 17th October 1919 reported:

The memorial tablet which is of oak, has been made by Mr C. W. Fletcher, a member of the Institute, and is of handsome and durable character. The inscription, which has been artistically executed by the firm of Messrs. Oldham of York Road, Leeds, is the following:-

Crossgates Wesleyan Institute. This tablet is erected to the memory of the members who fell in the Great War 1914-19.

Fred Atkinson, Fred Beaumont, Clifford Brook, Edmund Stephenson Clough, Percy Coultas, Louis Dodson, Clement Holliday, Bertram Kemp, Eric Sutherland McKay, Frank Mills, John Peacock, Thomas Anthony Sowry, Kenneth Stott.

An illuminated scroll under the name of the fallen heroes is the appropriate quotation:-

"The brave do not die,

Their deeds live for ever.

And call upon us

To emulate their courage

And devotion to duty."

Sadly his brother Horace Kemp 75767 RAMC died on 20th March 1920 at home at the age of 28. He now rests at Manston (St James) Churchyard where his headstone bears the epitaph:

IN JESU'S KEEPING 

A further article in the Skyrack Courier of 20th May 1921 mentions both Bertram and Horace:

CHURCH WAR MEMORIAL

On Thursday evening of last week there was an impressive service for the purpose of dedicating and unveiling the memorial to the men of the parish who fell in the Great War. The Vicar of Leeds, the Rev. Bernard Heyward, in unveiling the memorial, which is a mural tablet of oak erected in a conspicuous position inside the church, said "If the war had done nothing else, it had certainly killed the old superstition against praying about those who had died." The oak tablet, which contains the names of 38 men of the parish, and which is erected on the wall close to the entrance door of the church, bears the inscription surmounted by a carved laurel wreath, "To the glory of God, and in proud and grateful memory of the men of this parish who laid down their lives in the Great War 1914-1918", then follow the names:-

......, Bertram Kemp, Horace Kemp, ....

At the bottom of the list of names is the inscription "May they rest in peace".

Bertram is also commemorated on the Memorial at Cross Gates Methodist Church Leeds.

We currently have no further information on Bertram Kemp. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.