Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Kemp, a railway labourer, born 1871 in Harby, Leicestershire and his wife Betsy Kemp (nee Moulds, married on the 4th June 1894 in the Parish Church, Harby), born 1873 in Brentingby, Leicestershire. Thomas Alfred was born on the 2nd February1899 in Harby and was baptised on the 2nd April 1899 in the Parish Church, Harby, he had one sibling, a sister, Alice Ann, born 1895 in Harby, in March 1901 Thomas was residing at Stathern Road, Harby, this being the family home of his widowed paternal grandfather, Thomas Kemp, a farm yardman, born 1838 in Harby. In April 1911 Thomas was absent from the family home at 9, Exchange Row, residing there was his father, a railway labourer, his mother and siblings Alice, George William, born 1904 and Ena Marjorie, born 1907, the latter two siblings were both born in Harby, also residing with the family was Thomas’s widowed paternal grandfather, Thomas, an old age pensioner.
Thomas was enrolled into the Army (For men deemed to be enlisted in H.M. Regular Forces for General Service with the Colours or in the Reserve for the period of the War, or Ex Soldiers recalled for service with the Colours, under the provisions of the Military Service Acts, 1916) on the 16th June 1917 in Nottingham. He gave his full address as -?-, Bingham, Notts, his age as 18 years on the 2nd February and his trade or calling as farm horseman. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father, William Kemp of 9, Exchange Row, Harby, Melton Mowbray as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6¾ inches in height, weighed 128 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35 inches. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment in Derby as a Private, service number 88557 on the 16/6/17. Posted to the 9th Training Reserve Battalion and allotted the service number 353345 on the 20/6/17. Transferred to the 6th Training Reserve Battalion at Rugeley and allotted the service number TR/5/88905 on the 18/8/17. Transferred to the 11th Training Reserve Battalion at Brocton Camp and allotted the service number 6/3507 on the 17/9/17. Transferred to the 3rd Battalion Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment and allotted the service number 97911 on the 1/12/17. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France and posted to the Infantry Base Depot on the 22/1/18. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment on the 28/1/18. Reported missing in action, in the field on the 21/23/3/18. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 16/6/17 – 21/1/18, 220 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 22/1/18 – 21/23-3/18, 61 days. Total service 281 days. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals. Thomas’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 21-23 Mar-18 – FRONT LINE TRENCHES. Enemy’s bombardment consisted of every description of shell including gas shells opened out at 5.00am and remained on our lines until 9.30am. It then lifted and the expected attack developed. The enemy came in mass formation and though the Battalion had suffered heavy casualties during the bombardment he was held in check until 10.00am when he overwhelmed the front lines and reached the support line, “A” Company left Support Company put up a gallant fight but could not stop the enemy, a few men managed to gain the reserve line at Battalion Headquarters and there with Headquarters Company and “B” Company in SKIPTON reserve strong point held the enemy in check and SKIPTON strong point was kept intact by the Battalion until 3.00pm. This was done by means of small local counter-attacks by Headquarter Company and bombing parties who worked well down the trenches. At 8.00pm the enemy having taken LAGNICOURT on our left flank, a defensive flank was formed facing in that direction. The right resting on SKIPTON strong point and the left 1,000 yards North East of MORCHIES. This line was held by the remainder of the Battalion and a few details from the 9th Battalion NORFOLK REGIMENT and 1st LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. In forming this line, Major H. TYLDEN-WRIGHT, Major W. WILSON and Captain T. THORNTON, M.C. were wounded by Machine Gun fire from our right rear where the enemy had also broken through. Major TYLDEN-WRIGHT remained at duty until the evening. The enemy having broken through on the right of the 51st Division (on our right) it was found necessary to withdraw to the VAULX - MORCHIES line. The withdrawal was successfully completed in good order by 9.00pm. From the new line listening patrols went forward and gave warning of enemy approach, but all was quiet until 5.00am the 22nd March, when the Battalion was relieved by the 1st LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT, and after relief went back to a position near the MARICOURT COPSE – BEUGNY Road and took up position facing North East 1,200 yards North of BEUGNY. The strength of the Battalion was then 5 Officers and 130 Other Ranks. At 2.00pm the Battalion moved from this position and took up another facing North East on the VAULX – MORCHIES Road. About 1,500 yards from VAULX. A counter-attack to be made by the Battalion and the remnants of the NORFOLK REGIMENT was cancelled owing to being too weak. Owing to the troops on our right retiring the Battalion took up a position facing North East about 200 yards South East of the VAULX – MORCHIES Road. This position was held until 3.30pm when it became untenable and the Battalion withdrew to the position taken up in the morning near the MARICOURT COPSE – BEUGNY ROAD. During this withdrawal Captain K. N. BION, M.C. was killed by Machine Gun fire and the Command of the Battalion was taken over by Captain A. H. A. GILES, M.C. The last position was held under heavy shell fire and Machine Gun fire until 3.00am on the 23rd March when the Battalion was relieved by the 1st ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT, 19th Division. During the evening of the 22nd our tanks came into action and succeeded in breaking up a big concentration of the enemy about 1,500 yards to our immediate front. Our artillery also did good work in this respect firing on enemy troops in the open and causing many casualties. After relief the remainder of the Battalion (4 Officers, 110 Other Ranks) marched back through BEUGNY – FREMICOURT and BAPAUME to camp near BIHUCOURT where the Brigade were being formed. The Battalion was taken over by Captain C. ALLERTON, D.S.O who with details back from leave and remainder of Battalion prepared to take up a position North East of BIHUCOURT facing SAPIENIES and MORY. When it was reported the enemy had broken through. Patrols were sent out as far as MORY and it was reported the enemy was held up at this place. The 41st Division counter-attacked and retook MORY later in the day.