New Zealand Medical Corps

Alfred Ernest Kemp was deemed fit for military service in November 1917. It was not until 1918 that he was called up in the ballot. By then he was married to Charlotte (born Aldridge) and they had a son named Keith.

Alfred left his Ashhurst home and arrived at the Awapuni camp on 14 August 1918. The Awapuni racecourse had been turned into a specialist camp for training medical personnel. In his civilian life, Alfred was a Salvation Army officer. At Awapuni he became part of the New Zealand Medical Corps and was assigned the rank of Private.

On 2 November 1918, Alfred was transferred to Featherston Military Camp. During World War I, over 60,000 men passed through this camp. It was built to accommodate 6,500 men and stabling for 500 horses.

There is only one further entry in Alfred’s war record, and that is his date of death at Featherston Camp on 15 November. Alfred was one of 163 influenza deaths in the camp which affected both trainee soldiers and medical staff.

Alfred was 29 years old when he died. He was buried in the soldiers’ section of Featherston cemetery.

This photograph is assumed to be of Alfred’s brother, Arthur Wellington Kemp, standing next to his brother’s recently dug grave. The gravesite later received a commonwealth war graves headstone.

References:

Military Personnel Files, R18056190, Archives New Zealand

https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C33144

https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/9661/Featherston-Military-Training-Camp

https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/9684/9684

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