Name
Frank Henry Kempton
9/01/1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/04/1918
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
36371
Princess Charlotte of Wales’ (Royal Berkshire) Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 56 and 57.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hoddesdon and Rye Park Town Memorial, Hoddesdon, St Catherine and St Paul’s Church Memorial, Hoddesdon, Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Frank Henry KEMPTON was born on 9th January 1897, 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 on 27th August 1889, in Hoddesdon, Herts.
Frank was Baptised on 28th May 1897, in the Parish of Hoddesdon, Herts.
1901 Census records Frank aged 4, 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, Frank aged 14, working as an Errand Boy, living with his parents, brothers Herbert (19) and Roger (16), still at 4 Amwell Street, Hoddesdon. His father was recorded as a Postman for the General Post Office.
Wartime Service
Frank travelled to the County Town of Hertford with his brother Roger to enlisted, both brother were posted to the Hertfordshire Regiment with adjacent service number’s, Frank 5970 (Roger 5971). Both brother were later transferred to Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire Regiment), Frank was issued with the service Number 36371 (Roger 36374) (The brothers served in different Battalions).
Frank served on the Western Front. He was with the 2nd Battalion, when he was killed in Action on 27th April 1918, aged 21, He has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial to the missing in France. Panel 56 & 57.
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 £4-19-08, pay owing and his war gratuity of £11, went to his mother Ellen.
His brother Private 36374 Roger Kempton, also of the Royal Berkshire Regiment, was Killed in Action on 20th September 1918.
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
