Difference between revisions of "Thomas Webster Kemp"

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[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] '''Thomas Webster Kemp''', C.B., C.M.G., C.I.E., Royal Navy, Retired (27 September, 1866 – 13 January, 1928) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]].
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[[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] '''Thomas Webster Kemp''', C.B., C.M.G., C.I.E., Royal Navy, Retired (27 September, 1866 – 13 January, 1928) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]].  Evaluations and events from his time as a Captain suggest that he was not a very tactful man.
  
 
==Life & Career==
 
==Life & Career==
Kemp was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 1 January, 1890.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26007/pages/7553 no. 26007.  p. 7553.]  31 December, 1889.</ref>  He remained in ''Partridge'' in lieu of a Sub-Lieutenant (N) until paying off on 14 March, 1892.  On 21 July he was appointed to {{UK-Tribune}} for the annual man&oelig;uvres, and on 15 August he was appointed to ''Abyssinia'' for the Indian defence torpedo boat.  He was appointed to ''Magdala'' on 1 January, 1893 for the same duty.  He remained in this appointment until 24 August, 1894.
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Kemp was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 1 January, 1890.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/26007/pages/7553 no. 26007.  p. 7553.]  31 December, 1889.</ref>  He remained in the {{UK-1Partridge|f=t}} in lieu of a Sub-Lieutenant (N) until paying off on 14 March, 1892.  On 21 July he was appointed to {{UK-Tribune}} for the annual man&oelig;uvres, and on 15 August he was appointed to ''Abyssinia'' for the Indian defence torpedo boat.  He was appointed to ''Magdala'' on 1 January, 1893 for the same duty.  He remained in this appointment until 24 August, 1894.
  
On 14 January, 1895, he was appointed to {{UK-Mersey}}, Coastguard ship at Harwich.  He was appointed to {{UK-Blonde}} on the Cape Station on 10 September, where he remained until 1898.
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On 14 January, 1895, he was appointed to {{UK-Mersey}}, Coastguard ship at Harwich.  He was appointed to the {{UK-1Blonde|f=t}} on the Cape Station on 10 September, where he remained until 1898.
  
Kemp was appointed to ''Vivid'' for the Dockyard Reserve at Plymouth on 5 October, 1898, and was appointed to {{UK-Aurora}} on the [[China Station]] on 16 February, 1899.  For his services in China he was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 9 November, 1900.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27245/pages/6855 no. 27245.  p. 6855.]  9 November, 1900.</ref>
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Kemp was appointed to ''Vivid'' for the Dockyard Reserve at Plymouth on 5 October, 1898, and was appointed to {{UK-1Aurora}} on the [[China Station]] on 16 February, 1899.  For his services in China he was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 9 November, 1900.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27245/pages/6855 no. 27245.  p. 6855.]  9 November, 1900.</ref>
  
Following promotion he took a Signals course and a Senior Officers' (G) course.  He was appointed to {{UK-Arrogant}} on the China Station on 1 April, but requested to be relieved in July, 1901, which request was granted and he was superseded on 23 July.  He was appointed in command of ''Sphinx'' on the [[East Indies Station]] on 29 October.  he remained in her until 14 October, 1904.  During this time he served as Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf.
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Following promotion he took a Signals course and a Senior Officers' (G) course.  He was appointed to {{UK-Arrogant}} on the China Station on 1 April, but requested to be relieved in July, 1901, which request was granted and he was superseded on 23 July.  He was appointed in command of {{UK-Sphinx}} on the [[East Indies Station]] on 29 October, 1901His ''Sphinx'' sustained an unsatisfactory inspection in October, 1902 that was "far from creditable to the officers & men."  He remained in command in her until 14 October, 1904.<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/88.}}  f. 103.</ref> During this time he served as Senior Naval Officer, [[Persian Gulf]].
  
 
Kemp was appointed a Companion of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire (C.I.E.) on 2 January, 1905.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27750/pages/22 no. 27750.  p. 22.]  3 January, 1905.</ref>
 
Kemp was appointed a Companion of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire (C.I.E.) on 2 January, 1905.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27750/pages/22 no. 27750.  p. 22.]  3 January, 1905.</ref>
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Kemp was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 31 December, 1905.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27870/pages/25 no. 27870.  p. 25.]  2 January, 1906.</ref>
 
Kemp was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 31 December, 1905.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27870/pages/25 no. 27870.  p. 25.]  2 January, 1906.</ref>
  
On 19 March, 1907, he was appointed in command of the {{UK-Europa|f=t}}.  He was appointed to ''President'' for a third war course on 11 February, 1908, where he was placed first out of eight class III officers.  He was adjudged, "Good, but wanting in tact and judgement, difficult to employ with thus."  Dr. Mary Jones in a recent work cites this comment on Kemp by War College head Rear-Admiral Lowry as "the sort of confidential report that appeared for torpedo officers."<ref>Jones.  pp. 170-171.</ref>  The argument is completely undermined by the fact that Kemp ''wasn't'' a torpedo officer, and she provides no other examples to support her contention.
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On 19 March, 1907, he was appointed in command of the {{UK-Europa|f=t}}.  He was appointed to ''President'' for a third war course on 11 February, 1908, where he was placed first out of eight class III officers.  He was adjudged, "Good, but wanting in tact and judgement, difficult to employ with thus."  Dr. Mary Jones in a recent work cites this comment on Kemp by War College head Rear-Admiral Lowry as "the sort of confidential report that appeared for torpedo officers."<ref>Jones.  pp. 170-171.</ref>  The argument is undermined by the fact that Kemp ''wasn't'' a torpedo officer, and Dr. Jones provides no other examples to support her contention.
  
He was appointed in command of {{UK-Hogue|f=t}} on 11 May before being appointed to ''Vivid'' for trials of {{UK-Defence|f=t}}.  On 5 October he was appointed to ''President'' for an {N) course.  In October he was appointed in command of {{UK-Diana|f=t}}.
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He was appointed in command of {{UK-Hogue|f=t}} on 11 May 1908 before being appointed to ''Vivid'' for trials of {{UK-Defence|f=t}}.  On 5 October he was appointed to ''President'' for an (N) course.  In October 1908 he was appointed in command of {{UK-1Diana|f=t}}.  In September 1909, there was a Court of Inquiry into an accident caused by a loaded pistol having been stowed in a pistol rack.  Though no blame was attached to anyone for the mistake, Kemp's Service Record indicates that the Admiralty disagreed and felt that the executive officer had failed in his oversight duties.  This seems unusual, in that Kemp was the captain of the ship.
  
Kemp was appointed captain of the battleship {{UK-London}} on 15 September, 1913, and paid her off on 17 February, 1914.
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Kemp was appointed captain of the battleship {{UK-1London}} on 15 September, 1913. Some manner of trouble ensued, resulting in a Court Martial for chief gunner [[George Benjamin Hazell|G. B. Hazell]] who appears to have demonstrated contempt for a superior officer, presumably Kemp.  The end result for Kemp was a comment in his Service Record that the Board considered that the gunner had received "provocation from the Captain who had been in the habit of behaving in an unusual manner to his officers when calling their attention to anything he considered wrong.  In view of certain other matters of discipline in ''London'' directions given for ship to be inspected at an early date & for a special report to be forwaeded as to Captain Kemp's fitness for command of H.M. Ship." After this inspection, Kemp was informed that Their Lordships did not consider that he had acted with the discretion expected from an officer in his position as regard these disciplinary matters.
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Kemp paid ''London'' off on 17 February, 1914 and was informed he would not be employed afloat, but on shore.  He appealed the letter he'd received but was refused.  He even requested an outside tribunal of some kind to review the decision, but this was also refused.  Kemp would in fact remain entirely unemployed until the exigencies created by the outbreak of the war would cause his status to be reviewed.
  
 
==Great War==
 
==Great War==
On 5 September, 1914, Kemp was appointed Captain of the Armed Merchant Cruiser ''Calgarian'', which command he held until 6 September, 1915, and on 26 September he was appointed to ''Pembroke'' for command of the {{UK-Iphigenia}}.<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/42}}. f. 52.</ref>  At some point in 1915 he returned his commission but was informed that he could not resign from the Service in a time of war for the reasons he gave.<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/88}}.  f. 103.</ref>  On 10 June, 1916, he was appointed {{Com2RN}} whilst Senior Naval Officer at Archangel.  On 14 October he was appointed to {{UK-1Vindictive}}, again as Commodore, Second Class,<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/42}}. f. 52.</ref> as Senior Naval Officer, White Sea.<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/88}}. f. 103.</ref>
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On 5 September, 1914, Kemp was appointed Captain of the {{UK-Calgarian|f=t}}, which command he held until being called home on 6 September, 1915 to receive a new appointment.  On 26 September he was appointed to ''Pembroke'' for command of the {{UK-Iphigenia}}.<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.|D8112185}}  f. 52.</ref>  At some point in 1915 he returned his commission but was informed that he could not resign from the Service in a time of war for the reasons he gave.<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/88}}.  f. 103.</ref>  On 10 June, 1916, he was appointed {{Com2RN}} whilst Senior Naval Officer at [[Archangel]].  On 14 October he was appointed to {{UK-1Vindictive}}, again as Commodore, Second Class,<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.|D8112185}}  f. 52.</ref> as Senior Naval Officer, White Sea.<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/88.|}}  f. 103.</ref>
  
Kemp was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 27 April, 1917.  He was placed on the Retired List on 28 April.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30042/pages/4095 no. 30042.  p. 4095.]  1 May, 1917.</ref>  On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 4 June.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30111/supplements/5454 (Supplement) no. 30111.  p. 5454.]  4 June, 1917.</ref>  In the King's birthday honours of 3 June, 1918, he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (C.M.G.) for his services as Rear-Admiral in charge at Murmansk.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30723/supplements/6530 (Supplement) no. 30723.  p. 6530.]  3 June, 1918.</ref><ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/42}}. f. 52.</ref>
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Kemp was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 27 April, 1917.  He was placed on the Retired List on 28 April.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30042/pages/4095 no. 30042.  p. 4095.]  1 May, 1917.</ref>  On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 4 June.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30111/supplements/5454 (Supplement) no. 30111.  p. 5454.]  4 June, 1917.</ref>  In the King's birthday honours of 3 June, 1918, he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (C.M.G.) for his services as Rear-Admiral in charge at Murmansk.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30723/supplements/6530 (Supplement) no. 30723.  p. 6530.]  3 June, 1918.</ref><ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.|D8112185}}  f. 52.</ref>
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When serving in North Russia, Kemp was remembered as a "white-haired, rugged personality ... and quite one of the toughest specimens of humanity it has ever been my good fortune to meet. In spite of his more than three-score years of bachelor existence, he held in contempt both the climate and the mosquitoes. ... [It] became a proverb among the Russians at Arkhangel that 'It must indeed be a cold day when the British Admiral puts on an overcoat.'" ([[Rupert Stanley Gwatkin-Williams|R. S. Gwatkin-Williams]].)<ref>Captain R. S. Gwatkin-Williams, Under the Black Ensign (1922), p. 69.</ref>
  
 
==Retirement==
 
==Retirement==
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*{{TNA|ADM 196/42.|D8112185}}
 
*{{TNA|ADM 196/42.|D8112185}}
 
{{refend}}
 
{{refend}}
 
  
 
<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
 
<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
 
{{TabNaval}}
 
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Gerald Charles Adolphe Marescaux|Gerald C. A. Marescaux]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Europa (1897)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Europa'']]'''<br>19 Mar, 1907<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 420.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Herbert Morgan|Charles H. Morgan]]'''}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[Persian Gulf|Senior Officer, Persian Gulf]]'''<br>29 Oct, 1901 &ndash; 14 Oct, 1904|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Drury St. Aubyn Wake|Drury St. A. Wake]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Evelyn Robert Le Marchant|Evelyn R. Le Marchant]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Hogue (1900)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Hogue'']]'''<br>11 May, 1908<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 420.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles William Keighly-Peach|Charles W. Keighly-Peach]]'''}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Gerald Charles Adolphe Marescaux|Gerald C. A. Marescaux]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Europa (1897)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Europa'']]'''<br>19 Mar, 1907<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 420.</ref> &ndash; 3 Feb, 1908<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 420.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Herbert Morgan|Charles H. Morgan]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Defence (1907)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Defence'']]'''<br>26 Aug, 1908<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 420.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Cecil Frederick Dampier|Cecil F. Dampier]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Evelyn Robert Le Marchant|Evelyn R. Le Marchant]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Hogue (1900)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Hogue'']]'''<br>11 May, 1908<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 420.</ref> &ndash; 26 Aug, 1908|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles William Keighly-Peach|Charles W. Keighly-Peach]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Heathcoat Salusbury Grant|Heathcoat S. Grant]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Diana (1895)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Diana'']]'''<br>17 Nov, 1908{{NLJul09|p. 301}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Sydney Stewart Hall|Sydney S. Hall]]'''}}
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{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Defence (1907)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Defence'']]'''<br>26 Aug, 1908<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 420.</ref> &ndash; 5 Oct, 1908<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 420.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Cecil Frederick Dampier|Cecil F. Dampier]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Robert Francis Boyle|The Hon. Robert F. Boyle]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Duke of Edinburgh (1904)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Duke of Edinburgh'']]'''<br>2 May, 1911<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 420.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Cecil Irby Prowse|Cecil I. Prowse]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Heathcoat Salusbury Grant|Heathcoat S. Grant]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Diana (1895)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Diana'']]'''<br>17 Nov, 1908{{NLJul09|p. 301}} &ndash; 3 Feb, 1911<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 420.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Sydney Stewart Hall|Sydney S. Hall]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Walter Egerton Woodward|Walter E. Woodward]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Exmouth (1901)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Exmouth'']]'''<br>1 Jun, 1913<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 420.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Hugh Lindsay Patrick Heard|Hugh L. P. Heard]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Robert Francis Boyle|The Hon. Robert F. Boyle]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Duke of Edinburgh (1904)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Duke of Edinburgh'']]'''<br>2 May, 1911<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 420.</ref>{{NLAug12|p. 305}} &ndash; 2 May, 1913<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 420.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Cecil Irby Prowse|Cecil I. Prowse]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Ernest Humbert Grafton|Ernest H. Grafton]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. London (1899)|Captain of H.M.S. ''London'']]'''<br>15 Sep, 1913<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 52.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Garnet Armstrong|John G. Armstrong]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Hughes Campbell Lockyer|Hughes C. Lockyer]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Exmouth (1901)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Exmouth'']]'''<br>1 Jun, 1913<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 420.</ref> &ndash; 10 Jun, 1913<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 420.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Hugh Lindsay Patrick Heard|Hugh L. P. Heard]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur Gainsford Warren|Arthur G. Warren]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Iphigenia (1891)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Iphigenia'']]'''<br>26 Sep, 1915<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 52.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Kenneth Allan Ferrers Guy|Kenneth A. F. Guy]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Ernest Humbert Grafton|Ernest H. Grafton]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. London (1899)|Captain of H.M.S. ''London'']]'''<br>15 Sep, 1913<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 52.</ref> &ndash; 17 Feb, 1914<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 52.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Garnet Armstrong|John G. Armstrong]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Oswald McDonough English|Oswald McD. English]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Vindictive (1897)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Vindictive'']]'''<br>Sep, 1916{{NLDec16|p. 399''c''}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Alfred Francis Blakeney Carpenter|Alfred F. B. Carpenter]]'''}}
+
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Calgarian (1913)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Calgarian'']]'''<br>5 Sep, 1914{{NLApr15|p. 401''e''}} &ndash; 7 Sep, 1915{{NLApr15|p. 401''e''}}{{NLDec16|p. 401''l''}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Robert Gwynne Corbett|Robert G. Corbett]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edgar Robert Morant|Edgar R. Morant]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Iphigenia (1891)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Iphigenia'']]'''<br>26 Sep, 1915<ref>Kemp Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}}  f. 52.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Kenneth Allan Ferrers Guy|Kenneth A. F. Guy]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Oswald McDonough English|Oswald McD. English]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Vindictive (1897)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Vindictive'']]'''<br>Sep, 1916{{NLDec16|p. 399''c''}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Otto Herman Hawke-Genn|Otto H. Hawke-Genn]]'''}}
 +
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[Archangel|Senior Naval Officer and Principal Naval Transport Officer, Archangel]]'''<br>14 Oct, 1916 &ndash; 3 Oct, 1918|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Richard Hyde|Richard Hyde]]'''}}
 
{{TabEnd}}
 
{{TabEnd}}
 
</div name=fredbot:appts> 
 
</div name=fredbot:appts> 
Line 59: Line 65:
 
{{reflist}}
 
{{reflist}}
  
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kemp, Thomas}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kemp, Thomas Webster}}
  
 
{{CatPerson|UK|1866|1928}}
 
{{CatPerson|UK|1866|1928}}
 
{{CatBritannia|January, 1880}}
 
{{CatBritannia|January, 1880}}
[[Category:Senior Naval Officers, Archangel]]
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{{CatAdm|UK}}
{{CatAdmiral|UK}}
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{{CatInterpreter|UK|Russian}}

Revision as of 09:52, 23 November 2019

Admiral Thomas Webster Kemp, C.B., C.M.G., C.I.E., Royal Navy, Retired (27 September, 1866 – 13 January, 1928) was an officer of the Royal Navy. Evaluations and events from his time as a Captain suggest that he was not a very tactful man.

Life & Career

Kemp was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 January, 1890.[1] He remained in the gunboat Partridge in lieu of a Sub-Lieutenant (N) until paying off on 14 March, 1892. On 21 July he was appointed to Tribune for the annual manœuvres, and on 15 August he was appointed to Abyssinia for the Indian defence torpedo boat. He was appointed to Magdala on 1 January, 1893 for the same duty. He remained in this appointment until 24 August, 1894.

On 14 January, 1895, he was appointed to Mersey, Coastguard ship at Harwich. He was appointed to the third class protected cruiser Blonde on the Cape Station on 10 September, where he remained until 1898.

Kemp was appointed to Vivid for the Dockyard Reserve at Plymouth on 5 October, 1898, and was appointed to Aurora on the China Station on 16 February, 1899. For his services in China he was promoted to the rank of Commander on 9 November, 1900.[2]

Following promotion he took a Signals course and a Senior Officers' (G) course. He was appointed to Arrogant on the China Station on 1 April, but requested to be relieved in July, 1901, which request was granted and he was superseded on 23 July. He was appointed in command of Sphinx on the East Indies Station on 29 October, 1901. His Sphinx sustained an unsatisfactory inspection in October, 1902 that was "far from creditable to the officers & men." He remained in command in her until 14 October, 1904.[3] During this time he served as Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf.

Kemp was appointed a Companion of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire (C.I.E.) on 2 January, 1905.[4]

Captain

Kemp was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1905.[5]

On 19 March, 1907, he was appointed in command of the first class protected cruiser Europa. He was appointed to President for a third war course on 11 February, 1908, where he was placed first out of eight class III officers. He was adjudged, "Good, but wanting in tact and judgement, difficult to employ with thus." Dr. Mary Jones in a recent work cites this comment on Kemp by War College head Rear-Admiral Lowry as "the sort of confidential report that appeared for torpedo officers."[6] The argument is undermined by the fact that Kemp wasn't a torpedo officer, and Dr. Jones provides no other examples to support her contention.

He was appointed in command of armoured cruiser Hogue on 11 May 1908 before being appointed to Vivid for trials of armoured cruiser Defence. On 5 October he was appointed to President for an (N) course. In October 1908 he was appointed in command of second class protected cruiser Diana. In September 1909, there was a Court of Inquiry into an accident caused by a loaded pistol having been stowed in a pistol rack. Though no blame was attached to anyone for the mistake, Kemp's Service Record indicates that the Admiralty disagreed and felt that the executive officer had failed in his oversight duties. This seems unusual, in that Kemp was the captain of the ship.

Kemp was appointed captain of the battleship London on 15 September, 1913. Some manner of trouble ensued, resulting in a Court Martial for chief gunner G. B. Hazell who appears to have demonstrated contempt for a superior officer, presumably Kemp. The end result for Kemp was a comment in his Service Record that the Board considered that the gunner had received "provocation from the Captain who had been in the habit of behaving in an unusual manner to his officers when calling their attention to anything he considered wrong. In view of certain other matters of discipline in London directions given for ship to be inspected at an early date & for a special report to be forwaeded as to Captain Kemp's fitness for command of H.M. Ship." After this inspection, Kemp was informed that Their Lordships did not consider that he had acted with the discretion expected from an officer in his position as regard these disciplinary matters.

Kemp paid London off on 17 February, 1914 and was informed he would not be employed afloat, but on shore. He appealed the letter he'd received but was refused. He even requested an outside tribunal of some kind to review the decision, but this was also refused. Kemp would in fact remain entirely unemployed until the exigencies created by the outbreak of the war would cause his status to be reviewed.

Great War

On 5 September, 1914, Kemp was appointed Captain of the armed merchant cruiser Calgarian, which command he held until being called home on 6 September, 1915 to receive a new appointment. On 26 September he was appointed to Pembroke for command of the Iphigenia.[7] At some point in 1915 he returned his commission but was informed that he could not resign from the Service in a time of war for the reasons he gave.[8] On 10 June, 1916, he was appointed Commodore, Second Class whilst Senior Naval Officer at Archangel. On 14 October he was appointed to Vindictive, again as Commodore, Second Class,[9] as Senior Naval Officer, White Sea.[10]

Kemp was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 27 April, 1917. He was placed on the Retired List on 28 April.[11] On the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Military Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 4 June.[12] In the King's birthday honours of 3 June, 1918, he was appointed an Additional Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (C.M.G.) for his services as Rear-Admiral in charge at Murmansk.[13][14]

When serving in North Russia, Kemp was remembered as a "white-haired, rugged personality ... and quite one of the toughest specimens of humanity it has ever been my good fortune to meet. In spite of his more than three-score years of bachelor existence, he held in contempt both the climate and the mosquitoes. ... [It] became a proverb among the Russians at Arkhangel that 'It must indeed be a cold day when the British Admiral puts on an overcoat.'" (R. S. Gwatkin-Williams.)[15]

Retirement

Kemp was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List on 1 May, 1922,[16] and advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 8 November, 1926.[17]

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Kemp" (Obituaries). The Times. Monday, 16 January, 1928. Issue 44791, col B, p. 14.
  • Jones, Mary (2012). "Towards a Hierarchy of Management: The Victorian and Edwardian Navy, 1860-1918". In Doe, Helen; Harding, Richard. Naval Leadership and Management, 1650-1950: Essays in Honour of Michael Duffy. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press. ISBN 9781843836957.

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
?
Senior Officer, Persian Gulf
29 Oct, 1901 – 14 Oct, 1904
Succeeded by
Drury St. A. Wake
Preceded by
Gerald C. A. Marescaux
Captain of H.M.S. Europa
19 Mar, 1907[18] – 3 Feb, 1908[19]
Succeeded by
Charles H. Morgan
Preceded by
Evelyn R. Le Marchant
Captain of H.M.S. Hogue
11 May, 1908[20] – 26 Aug, 1908
Succeeded by
Charles W. Keighly-Peach
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Defence
26 Aug, 1908[21] – 5 Oct, 1908[22]
Succeeded by
Cecil F. Dampier
Preceded by
Heathcoat S. Grant
Captain of H.M.S. Diana
17 Nov, 1908[23] – 3 Feb, 1911[24]
Succeeded by
Sydney S. Hall
Preceded by
The Hon. Robert F. Boyle
Captain of H.M.S. Duke of Edinburgh
2 May, 1911[25][26] – 2 May, 1913[27]
Succeeded by
Cecil I. Prowse
Preceded by
Hughes C. Lockyer
Captain of H.M.S. Exmouth
1 Jun, 1913[28] – 10 Jun, 1913[29]
Succeeded by
Hugh L. P. Heard
Preceded by
Ernest H. Grafton
Captain of H.M.S. London
15 Sep, 1913[30] – 17 Feb, 1914[31]
Succeeded by
John G. Armstrong
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Calgarian
5 Sep, 1914[32] – 7 Sep, 1915[33][34]
Succeeded by
Robert G. Corbett
Preceded by
Edgar R. Morant
Captain of H.M.S. Iphigenia
26 Sep, 1915[35]
Succeeded by
Kenneth A. F. Guy
Preceded by
Oswald McD. English
Captain of H.M.S. Vindictive
Sep, 1916[36]
Succeeded by
Otto H. Hawke-Genn
Preceded by
?
Senior Naval Officer and Principal Naval Transport Officer, Archangel
14 Oct, 1916 – 3 Oct, 1918
Succeeded by
Richard Hyde
 

Footnotes

  1. The London Gazette: no. 26007. p. 7553. 31 December, 1889.
  2. The London Gazette: no. 27245. p. 6855. 9 November, 1900.
  3. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 103.
  4. The London Gazette: no. 27750. p. 22. 3 January, 1905.
  5. The London Gazette: no. 27870. p. 25. 2 January, 1906.
  6. Jones. pp. 170-171.
  7. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 52.
  8. The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 103.
  9. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 52.
  10. The National Archives. ADM 196/88. f. 103.
  11. The London Gazette: no. 30042. p. 4095. 1 May, 1917.
  12. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30111. p. 5454. 4 June, 1917.
  13. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30723. p. 6530. 3 June, 1918.
  14. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 52.
  15. Captain R. S. Gwatkin-Williams, Under the Black Ensign (1922), p. 69.
  16. The London Gazette: no. 32695. p. 3625. 9 May, 1922.
  17. The London Gazette: no. 33222. p. 7477. 19 November, 1926.
  18. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 420.
  19. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 420.
  20. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 420.
  21. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 420.
  22. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 420.
  23. The Navy List. (July, 1909). p. 301.
  24. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 420.
  25. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 420.
  26. The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 305.
  27. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 420.
  28. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 420.
  29. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 420.
  30. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 52.
  31. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 52.
  32. The Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 401e.
  33. The Navy List. (April, 1915). p. 401e.
  34. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 401l.
  35. Kemp Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 52.
  36. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 399c.