Summary

British War medal awarded posthumously to Pte. Albert Edward Kemp, service number 6800, 6th Battalion, 22nd Reinforcements of the A.I.F. He was killed in action in Belgium on the 21st September 1917, during World War I.

Private Kemp was born in South Yarra. He was a butcher when he enlisted at Royal Park on 14 October 1916. Kemp was married to Annie Josephine Kemp of 8 Normanby Avenue, Malvern and they had a daughter Ethel. He embarked from Melbourne on 25 October 1916 on HMAT Ulysses. Private Kemp was killed in action in Belgium on 21 September 1917. In the National Archives of Australia there are 52 pages of digitized material relating to Private Kemp.

The British War Medal 1914-1920, authorised in 1919, was awarded to eligible service personnel and civilians alike. Qualification for the award varied slightly according to service. The basic requirement for army personnel and civilians was that they either entered a theatre of war, or rendered approved service overseas between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. Service in Russia in 1919 and 1920 also qualified for the award.

Obverse Description

Bare head of King George V facing left; text around, 'GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:'; the artist's initials 'B.M.' (Bertram MacKennal) are on the neck truncation.

Reverse Description

Naked figure of St. George on horseback advancing right trampling a shield bearing an eagle design and a skull and crossbone. Above, the sun; in the background, the ocean; text around, '1914 1918'.

Edge Description

Text; '6800 PTE A.E. KEMP. 6- BN A.I.F.'.

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