Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The 1914-15 Star awarded to Private V. Kemp, Royal West Kent Regiment, later 1st Battalion, Border Regiment, who was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, on which date the battalion suffered over 600 casualties

1914-15 Star (10606 Pte. V. Kemp. R.W. Kent R.) lacquered, good very fine £80-£100

Victor Kemp was born in Woolwich, Kent, an attested for the Royal West Kent Regiment at Gravesend, Kent. He served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 1 May 1915, before transferring to the 1st Battalion, Border Regiment, and was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916, on which date the battalion was detailed to attack the enemy line just south of Beaumont-Hamel. The battalion was virtually wiped out by machine gun fire whilst still in their own wire, with just small groups of 6 or so being left and sheltering as best as they could in shell holes. The advance was brought to a standstill at 8:00 a.m., having suffered total casualties of 619. Kemp has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

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