Name
Ralph Osborne Kempton
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/08/1917
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
602502
Canadian Infantry
87th Bn., Manitoba Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LIEVIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Plot II, Row D, Grave 19.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Beechen Grove Baptist Church Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance
Pre War
Son of Elizabeth (nee HYAM) KEMPTON of Watford, and the late Thomas Tyerman KEMPTON.
His parents married 18 November 1874 at St Jude’s, Islington, London. Thomas died 25 October 1904 in Watford aged 55, and was buried 28 October in Vicarage Road Cemetery; Elizabeth died 5 October 1948 in Watford aged 95, and was buried 8 October, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Ralph was born 3 September 1891 in Watford, and attended Watford Grammar School from January 1899 to April 1907. He worked for F H Haines & Sons, and sailed third class from Liverpool to Halifax, Nova Scotia, 3 January 1914 aboard the Allen Line Tunisian: a clerk aged 22, with his friend Sidney HAINES (q.v.).
On the 1901 Census, aged 9 he lived in Watford, with his parents and seven siblings. On the 1911 Census, an insurance clerk aged 19, he still lived in Watford, with his widowed mother and four siblings.
Wartime Service
He attested 19 May 1915 at Guelph, Ontario: a farmer aged 23, unmarried, 5’11” tall, Baptist; his next-of-kin was his mother of Watford.
He was killed in action in an attack west of Lens.
Additional Information
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
“KEMPTON, RALPH OSBORNE. School period: January, 899, to April, 1907. Lance-Corporal, 87th Canadian Grenadier Guards. Two years, three months. Killed in action at Lens, 15th August, 1917.”
There is an article about and a Death announcement for Ralph in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 1 September 1917; plus a Grammar School In Memoriam in the issue dated 22 December 1917.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
