We have received the following letter from Mr James Kemp, of Hampden: A mistake in regard to your report that. Rifleman Colin Kemp, No. 32859, J Company, Nineteenth Reinforcements, was killed in action on June 7 must have occurred. I have had no such official word. The first report we got was that he was wounded on June 8th, then last Monday we received word he was missing since June 17th, but no word that he was killed or believed killed, but just missing so far. We have still hope that we will surely receive better news later on. There has been so many different dates in regard to this matter, that he might possibly still survive. -North Otago Times, 21/7/1917.
On the day of Colin Kemp's disappearance, his Battalion (3rd Battalion, NZ Rifle Brigade) were in the forefront of the dawn attack, after the firing of mines under the German lines, on what was left of those lines. In the confusion of the situation, officers needed to use compasses instead of landmarks in their advance.
Colin's army record has a brief sentence referring to his last hours: "seen wounded and walking to rear 7/6/1917 (no further knowledge)."
Court of Enquiry in August, 1917, ruled that he had been killed in action in the field.
IN MEMORIAM
KEMP. — In fond and loving memory of Rifleman Colin Kemp, 32859, 3rd Battalion, C Company, 8.8., 19th Reinforcements, missing, believed killed in action, Messines, June 7, 1917.
— Inserted by his sorrowing father, brothers, and sisters. -Otago Witness, 8/6/1920.
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