Ernest Alfred Kemp

A Corporal with the 10th Battalion, Ernest died on 8th of February 1945 aged 34. 

Ernest was born at Walthamstow on 20 April 1910, a son of Charles T. and Anna Maude Kemp. In 1911 his family lived at Finningham, Suffolk. By 1921 they were living at Blo Norton, Norfolk. 

In 1936 Ernest married Ethel Edna Rice, this was registered in the Thetford district. By 1939 they were living at 197 Stradbroke Road, Pakefield, and Ernest was an insurance agent. In 1945 their home was at 203 Stradbroke Road. Ethel later remarried. 

Ernest served in north-west Europe with the 10th Battalion Highland Light Infantry. His battalion was involved in Operation Veritable, the advance through the Reichswald Forest, that began on 8 February 1945. At 5 a.m. a barrage opened as a preliminary to the infantry attack at H hour, 10.30 a.m. The 10th Battalion were to advance to Kranenburg where the met heavy opposition. By 6 p.m. the battalion had taken Kranenburg and had 200 German prisoners. The battalion’s casualties were one officer and twelve men, including Ernest, killed and two officers and twenty-six men wounded. Five men were missing. Ernest was buried at Kranenburg. In 1947 he was reburied at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.