Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Second World War Burma operations M.M., B.E.M. group of six awarded to Acting Sergeant A. C. Kemp, Northamptonshire Regiment

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (5989643 Pte. A. C. Kemp, North’n. R.), in its card box of issue, with Buckingham Palace forwarding letter; British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (5989643 A./Sgt. Alfred C. Kemp, M.M., N.R.), in its card box of issue, with Buckingham Palace forwarding letter; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, generally extremely fine (6) £1800-2200

M.M. London Gazette 28 June 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘From 15 May 1944, until the Silchar Track was cleared of the enemy about 15 July 1944, Private Kemp rendered continually gallant service in supervising the daily delivery of supplies to the Battalion at Pt. 5846 on the Silchar Track from Bishenpur.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Japanese had worked into position North of the track, from which they commanded portions of the road by M.M.G. and 75mm. gun fire, and that from the South they had three quarters of a mile of the road under point blank 75mm. gun fire and two bunkered M.M.G. posts dug in only 900 yards from the road, he never missed accompanying the supply column through to the Battalion.

Although jeeps received direct hits from enemy gun fire, and mules were killed by enemy M.M.G. fire, he never once faltered or failed to see the supplies go through. Such devotion to duty and gallantry in action, when he knew before each trip that he had to go though aimed gun and M.M.G. fire, showed courage and devotion to duty far above that to be expected of his rank.

On the return journeys, he invariably took charge of the wounded of the Battalion, who were to be evacuated, and there is no doubt that the fine example he set of always coming though was a magnificent tonic to men who had been fighting continuously for over three months.’

B.E.M. London Gazette 6 June 1946. The original recommendation states:

‘During the second period of operations against the Japanese, from November 1944 to April 1945, in Burma, this unit [1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment] was without a Quarter-Master, and for half the period was also without a Regimental Quarter-Master Sergeant. Consequently the major portion of their duties fell on Sergeant Kemp, whose work was beyond praise. For most of the campaign the unit was maintained by air and it was owing to Sergeant Kemp’s tireless efficiency that late supply drops were collected, sorted and distributed in time for the next days march, both for the Battalion and the many attached units. In addition, the Battalion was on an all mule scale of transport and Sergeant Kemp had the intricate and ever changing task of sorting the loads and looking after the Q.M’s baggage train. The fact that he was doing two men’s work, the one a Commissioned Officer’s and the other a Warrant Officer’s, never worried Sergeant Kemp, whose cheerfulness and efficiency were an example to all and this Battalion owes him a debt of gratitude it is impossible to repay.’

Alfred Charles Kemp, who originally enlisted in the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiment, was recommended for his M.M. by Lieutenant-Colonel D. E. Taunton, C.O. of the 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, on 19 September 1944, the Major-General commanding 20th Indian Division concurring with the following statement - ‘A magnificent example of sustained courage and devotion to duty.’