KEMPSTER, William Roger
| Service Number: | 22203 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 8th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Keilli, near Red Hill, South Australia, 21 March 1882 |
| Home Town: | Norwood (SA), South Australia |
| Schooling: | Public School, Magill, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Mason |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 30 August 1918, aged 36 years |
| Cemetery: |
Tincourt New British Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Norwood War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1915: | Enlisted | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 May 1916: | Involvement Driver, 22203, 23rd Field Artillery (Howitzer) Brigade, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Medic embarkation_ship_number: A7 public_note: '' | |
| 20 May 1916: | Embarked Driver, 22203, 23rd Field Artillery (Howitzer) Brigade, HMAT Medic, Melbourne | |
| 6 Dec 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Gunner, 22203, 8th Field Artillery Brigade , France - GSW face | |
| 30 Aug 1918: | Involvement Gunner, 22203, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 22203 awm_unit: 8th Australian Field Artillery Brigade awm_rank: Gunner awm_died_date: 1918-08-30 | |
| 30 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Gunner, 8th Field Artillery Brigade |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Gunner William Roger Kempster (Service No:22203) enlisted in the AIF on 6 September 1915 with 2nd Depot Battalion, and was a Driver attached to 23 Field Artillery Brigade when he embarked with his Unit from Melbourne for Plymouth on 20 May 1916 on board HMAT A7 Medic. Gunner Kempster served on the Western Front, and was WiA in France on 6 December 1917 (GSW face). Gunner Kempster was attached to 8th Field Artillery Brigade in France when he was KiA. Gunner Kempster was one of five brothers who served in WWI - Allen, Ernie, Clarence and Charles.
Will was born at Keilli, Port Pirie, South Australia in 1882, fifth of eleven children of Charles Kempster (b1848 in Buckinghamshire, England) and Christina MacDonald (b1851 in Fifeshire, Scotland). Christina immigrated in 1953, arriving in Port Adelaide on board the Hercules, and Charles arrived in 1855 on board the Punjab. Charles (a Farmer at Magpie Creek) and Christina married in 1871 at Bungaree and lived at Magpie Creek, Angle Grove, Keilli, Bute, Kadina and Magill where they raised their family and Charles was a Farmer. By 1912 the family had settled in Adelaide, where Charles worked as a Labourer.
Will first worked as a Gardener, and was a Mason/Builder in 1907 when he married Caroline (Carrie) Augusta Chesher (b1883 in Adelaide, South Australia). Will and Carrie settled in Adelaide, where Will worked as a Builder and served with Kadina Infantry. Carried died (Tuberculosis) in 1914, leaving Will a Widower with two small children - baby Francis died in infancy. Will was described 'He was a Builder, and the last job on which he was employed was the Gilberton post office. He was of a quiet disposition, and had many friends. His wife and little son died before he enlisted. He leaves one son' (Chronicle; 1918). Will's effects - a pipe and a pair of socks - were returned to his family, and in the 1920s there was some conflict between his father Charles and his Mother-in-Law over receipt and guardianship of Will's War Medals for his surviving son. (NAA)
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