S/40501 Private
8th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 152nd Infantry Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division
Age: 20
Date of Death: 1.8.17
Buried: Dozinghem Military Cemetery II.H.24
Family history: Son of William and Christine Kemp. He had a brother Alexander and two sisters Maggie and Jessie. He was married to Jemima, and they lived at 117 Dundas Street, Grangemouth. They had a daughter Christina who was born on 18 December 1917.
The action leading to his death
On the 31 July, the opening day of the battle known as Third Ypres, the Battalion attacked the German front line at No Man’s Cottage with the 5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders on their right and the 7th Gordon’s on their left. Three platoons from ‘B’ Company attacked in the first wave and one platoon of ‘A’ Company attacked the German second line at Caledonian Support. The second wave, consisting of two Platoons of ‘A’ Company and 3 platoons of ‘D’ Company, passed through and captured the German third line at Caledonian Reserve and Fort Caledonia. The third wave, consisting of one platoon of ‘A’ Company and one platoon of ‘D’ Company went through and captured and consolidated Muller Cottage and Below Farm. With the objectives secured the 6th Seaforth Highlanders passed through the Battalion. ‘C’ Company had been held in reserve at Hardy’s Trench and at 11.30am orders were received to move two platoons to support the Seaforths at Britannia Farm south west of the Steenbeek at Ferdinand Farm.
David was wounded during the attack on 31 July and died of his wounds at Dozinghem Casualty Clearing Station on 1 August.
Medals Awarded
Victory Medal, British Medal
Headstone
