Name
Neville George Mercer Kemsley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/05/1918
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Driver
890877
Royal Field Artillery
83rd Trench Mortar Battery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHOCQUES MILITARY CEMETERY
Plot IV, Row A, Grave 11.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Christ Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of Charles and Olive (nee WILKINS) KEMSLEY of Watford.
His parents married 1886 in the Malling, Kent, district. Charles died 1952 in Bushey, Herts, aged 89, and was buried 29 October in North Watford Cemetery; Olive died 18 March 1956 in Watford aged 90, and was buried 23 March, also in North Watford Cemetery.
Neville was born 22 September 1896 in Alfold, Surrey [not Elford Kent], and attended St Margaret’s Infants’ School, Rochester, Kent, from 2 June 1902 to 31 March 1905.
On the 1901 Census, aged 4 he lived in Barham, Kent, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, a shop worker aged 14, he lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hertford; was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
There is a brief article about and a Death announcement for Neville in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 25 May 1918; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 10 May 1919.
Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War.
Unfortunately, Neville’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
