Name
Roger Kempton
16/08/1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/09/1918
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
36374
Princess Charlotte of Wales’ (Royal Berkshire) Regiment
8th Bn
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL
Panel 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
N\A
UK & Other Memorials
Hoddesdon and Rye Park Town Memorial, Hoddesdon, St Catherine and St Paul’s Church Memorial, Hoddesdon, Broxbourne C Of E Primary School Memorial, Broxbourne (*1), Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Roger KEMPTON was born on 16th August 1894, in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, son of Walter Halls Kempton a Shoe Maker and Ellen Kempton (nee Foster). One of their five children although one died in infancy. His parents married were on 27th August 1889in Hoddesdon, Herts.
Roger was Baptised on 14th October 1894, in the Parish of Hoddesdon, Herts.
1901 Census records Roger aged 6 living with his parents, and three brothers at 4 Amwell Street, Hoddesdon, Herts. His father is recorded as a Boot Maker and Postman.
1911 Census, Roger (16) is working as an Ironmongers Assistant, living with his parents, brothers Herbert (19) and Frank (14), still at 4 Amwell Road, Hoddesdon. His father was recorded as a Postman for the General Post Office.
*1 Believed educated at Broxbourne C Of E Primary School, Broxbourne.
Wartime Service
Roger travelled to the County Town of Hertford with his brother Frank to enlisted, both brother were posted to the Hertfordshire Regiment with adjacent service number’s, Roger 5971 (Frank 5970). Both brother were later transferred to Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire Regiment), Rogers was issued with the service Number 36374 (Frank 36371) (The brothers served in different Battalions).
Roger served on the Western Front. He was with “C” Company, 8th Battalion, when he was Killed in Action on 20thSeptember 1918, aged 24, possible at the Battle of the Hindenburg Line, (Battle of the Hindenburg Line 12th September to 9th October 1918) he has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Vis-En-Artois Memorial to the missing in France. Panel 7.
Additional Information
A Pension Card exists for his mother Ellen as a Dependent, but no Pension amount is recorded, her address was 4 Amwell Street, Hoddesdon, Herts.
His effects of £6, pay owing and his war gratuity of £13, also went to his mother Ellen.
His Brother Private 36371 Frank Henry Kempton, also of the Royal Berkshire Regiment, was killed in Action on 27 April 1918 and who is also commemorated on these Memorials.
His brother Reginal Walter Kempton served for 12 years in the Royal Navy, obtained the Rank of Petty Officer 1st class; he survived the war (he served from August 1908 to August 1920).
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox, Jonty Wild
