No.17396, Private, Enoch KEMP
Aged 36
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Enoch Kemp was born in Wickhambrook (2nd qtr 1879 Risbridge 4a:519) son of William and Hannah KEMP(née WELLS)
1881 census...Aged 1, he was at Ladies Green, Wickhambrook with his father William KEMP [33] labourer, born Dalham; his mother Hannah [32]; sisters Jessie [13], Ellen [11], Eliza [10] and Jane [3]; twin brothers William and Walter [9] and Joseph [6]. All except his father were born in Wickhambrook. His mother died in 1884 1891 census...Aged 11, a farm labourer, he was at Barber's Lane, Wickhambrook with his widower father (now recorded as born in Wickhambrook); sisters Ellen and Jane; twin brothers William and Walter, and Joseph. All the males were farm labourers. 1901 census...Aged 21, he was in the 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment in South Africa. His father (recorded born in Dalham) and sister Eliza were living near the Queens Inn, Wickhambrook. In 1903 he married Lily MISON from Ousden [29-7-1882] 1911 census...Aged 30, he was a farm labourer, at New House Farm Cottages, Wickhambrook with his wife Lily [28] born Ousden; sons Charles Herbert born Ousden and Enoch [8 months] born Wickhambrook; daughters Gladys Mabel[5] and Ruby May [3] both born in Wickhambrook. At some time after Enoch Junior's birth they moved to Chapel Yard, Chevington. On the pension card the children's births are recorded as Charlie Herbert MISON [8-10-1903], Gladys Mabel [20-1-1906], Ruth May [25-3-1908], Enoch [10-7-1910], Winifred Grace [25-6-1912] and Kathleen Lily [17-10-1914]. From this it can be seen that he was probably more likely to have been named on Wickhambrook memorial, but he is not. |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. His Queens South Africa medal carries the clasps for Cape Colony - Orange Free State - Transvall - South Africa 1901 - South Africa 1902.
The 1st battalion's last attack before being sent to Egypt was a complete muddle. They were ordered on 1st October to move up and cover 1st Welch and 2nd Cheshires attack on Little Willie, a trench near Vermelles. On the 2nd October (minus "D" Coy, and 70 men of "B" Coy who had been diverted to help the Northumberland Fusiliers) the 1st Suffolks reached the support trenches. Next morning HQ and "A" Coy moved to Central Keep, "B" occupied a nearby trench whilst "C" remained in support. "D" still had not arrived. Orders came for an attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt, directed initially at Little Willie at 8:30 pm, which was, if successful, to carry on beyond Fosse 8 and dig in. At 7pm after recce was made they began winding up Central Bergeau but made very slow progress due to the crowded state of the communication trench. This delay led to zero hour being put back to 10 pm and then midnight. In the event that was eventually 2 am. They were to aim at a red light outside the German trench, but with the delay meant the position of the moon had shifted and the Germans, aware they were coming, had inconveniently failed to display the lamp. There was no artillery support, no one had any real idea where they were going and the whole dismal affair ended with about 160 casualties. The missing "D" Coy, it later transpired, had been diverted en route and sent to a different part of the line. The order to repeat the attack was cancelled, and the 1st Suffolks returned to Annequin and then Perriere. On October 21st they received orders to entrain to Marseilles from where they sailed to Egypt. The death toll in this sorry affair was 32 on the 3rd, which under the circumstances was very fortunate.
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