Name
Leonard Frederick Kempster
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/03/1918
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
29445
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY
XXXIII. A. 23A.
France
Headstone Inscription
A LOVED ONE FALLEN ASLEEP
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, Marlowes Baptist Church, Marlowes, Not on the Berkhamsted memorials
Pre War
Leonard Frederick Kempster was born in Berkhamsted, Herts in 1898, the son of William and Elizabeth Kempster, and one of five children, one of whom died in infancy.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 24 Charles Street, Great Berkhamsted, where his father was working as a Butcher's Assistant. By 1911 the family had moved to 88 Cotterells Road, Hemel Hempstead and his father was working for Pearl Life Assurance Company. Leonard, although only 13, was working as a Grocer's Assistant Porter.
His parents later lived at 55, Craven Park Rd., Harlesden, London.
Wartime Service
In March 1916 Leonard went to Ampthill, Beds and enlisted with the Bedfordshire Regiment, being sent to Felixstowe for basic training. He was sent overseas in early 1917 and was posted to the 4th Battalion, joining his unit in May 1917.
He initially spent time in the trenches but saw his first serious action in the Second Battle of Passchendaele towards the end of October when casualties were heavy, largely because of the heavy and boggy ground.
In early 1918 the Battalion moved to Beaulencourt and prepared for the next offensive and Leonard fought in the Battles of St Quentin and Bapaume which were notable for their heavy shelling and machine gun fire.
At the end of March, Leonard was wounded during the German assaults west of Albert and taken to the 20th General Hospital at Camiers, near Etaples, where he died of his wounds on 29 March 1918, aged 20. He is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.
Additional Information
His father, Mr W T Kempster, 55 Craven Park Road, Harlesden, London, NW10, ordered his headstone inscription: "A LOVED ONE FALLEN ASLEEP". His mother Elizabeth received a war gratuity of £8 10s and pay owing of £6 15s 6d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelatwar.org., www.hemelheroes.com.
