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Walter Kempster

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Walter Kempster
Personal information
Full name
Walter Francis Herbert Kempster
Born18 May 1909
Chinwangtao, Beizhili, China
Died26 June 1952(1952-06-26) (aged 43)
All Stretton, Shropshire, England
BattingUnknown
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1929/30Europeans
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 1
Runs scored 10
Batting average 5.00
100s/50s –/–
Top score 10
Catches/stumpings 1/–
Source: Cricinfo, 24 December 2023

Walter Francis Herbert Kempster DSO OBE (18 May 1909 – 26 June 1952) was an English first-class cricketer and an officer in the British Army.

Life and military career

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Kempster was born in China at Chinwangtao in May 1909. He was educated in England at Cheltenham College,[1] where he played for and captained the college cricket team.[2] From there, he progressed to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst,[1] from where he graduated into the King's Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI) as a second lieutenant in January 1929.[3] Shortly after gaining his commission, Kempster served in the North-West Frontier Province of British India, where the Afridi Redshirt Rebellion was taking place. For his service there, he gained a medal and clasp.[1] While serving in India, he made a single appearance in first-class cricket for the Europeans cricket team against the Muslims at Lahore in the 1929–30 Lahore Tournament.[4] Batting twice in the match, he was dismissed without scoring by Mohammad Nissar, while in their second innings he was dismissed for 10 runs by Jahangir Khan.[5] Kempster was also well known in army cricket, having represented the British Army cricket team several times. Wisden described him as a "sound and attractive batsman".[2]

In the KSLI, he was promoted to lieutenant in January 1932.[6] Kempster was seconded to the Sierra Leone Battalion in April 1937,[7][8] an appointment which last until 1938.[1] It was while seconded that he was promoted to captain in December 1937.[9] By December 1938, he had returned to the KSLI and was made an adjutant in December 1938.[10] Kempster served in the Second World War with distinction. He was mentioned in dispatches in March 1945 for gallant and distinguished service in the North-West Europe campaign, at which point he held the temporary rank of brigadier;[11] he was further recognised for his service during the campaign by being made an OBE in the same month and a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in August 1945.[12][13]

Following the end of the war, Kempster was promoted to major in January 1946.[14] He was later given the war substantive rank of lieutenant colonel, prior to his promotion to colonel in December 1950.[15] He was specially employed in January 1951, and was given the temporary rank of major general.[16] In December 1951, he was promoted to brigadier,[17] prior to his death in June 1952 at All Stretton, Shropshire.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Register, 1919-1951, Additions and Corrections, 1841-1919. Cheltenham College. 1953. p. 85.
  2. ^ a b "Wisden - Obituaries in 1952". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  3. ^ "No. 33462". The London Gazette. 1 February 1929. p. 772.
  4. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Walter Kempster". CricketArchive. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Europeans v Muslims, Lahore Tournament 1929/30". CricketArchive. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  6. ^ "No. 33795". The London Gazette. 2 February 1932. p. 707.
  7. ^ Blue Book. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Publishing Office. 1937. p. 114.
  8. ^ "No. 34389". The London Gazette. 16 April 1937. p. 2467.
  9. ^ "No. 34489". The London Gazette. 4 March 1938. p. 1425.
  10. ^ "No. 34587". The London Gazette. 6 January 1939. p. 126.
  11. ^ "No. 36994". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 March 1945. p. 1560.
  12. ^ "No. 37004". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 March 1945. p. 1704.
  13. ^ "No. 37235". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 August 1945. p. 4263.
  14. ^ "No. 37451". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 January 1946. p. 755.
  15. ^ "No. 39137". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 January 1951. p. 593.
  16. ^ "No. 39168". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 March 1951. p. 1285.
  17. ^ "No. 39409". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 December 1951. p. 6575.
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