Jan Kemp (general)

Early life

Jan Kemp was born in the present Amersfoort district, Transvaal on 10 June 1872, the younger son of Jurie Johannes Kemp and Maria Aletta Greyling. His maternal grandfather, Abraham Carel Greyling, a stepson of the Voortrekker leader, Piet Retief, was killed with Retief in 1838. His paternal grandfather, Petrus Johannes Kemp, emigrated from Belgium between 1830 and 1840.

He was educated at the Staatsgymnasium (State Gymnasium) in Pretoria.

He became a clerk in the Transvaal department of education in 1889. He soon transferred to the mining commissioner's office in Krugersdorp and achieved the position of chief clerk by 1899.

Military career

He served in the Magato War, against the Basuto chief, in 1895 and helped to suppress the Jameson Raid.

At the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Boer War he joined the Krugersdorp Commando. As a burgher, he participated in many of the early engagements in Natal.

In November 1899, he was elected assistant field-cornet. On 27 February 1900 he distinguished himself at the Battle of Pietershoogte (also known as Spoorwegkop/Railway Hill) despite the Boer forces having to withdraw and the British forces taking the position.

In June 1900, while serving under General CF Beyers in the northern Transvaal he was elected a commandant.

On 13 December 1900, at the Battle of Nooitgedacht, where he commanded one of the Boer commandos, he was wounded in the arm.

In February 1901 he was promoted to combat general and instructed to make contact with General JH de la Rey in the western Transvaal.

It had been intended that Kemp should invade the Cape Colony. This plan was abandoned and he became one of De la Rey's ablest and most daring officers, showing his tactical acumen particularly in the actions at Vlakfontein (29–30 May 1901), Moedwil (30 September 1901) and Battle of Ysterspruit, near Klerksdorp in the Western Transvaal on 25 February 1902.

His suggestion (September 1901) that a military government should supplant the civil government of the Transvaal republic, was vetoed by De la Rey. In the Battle of Tweebos on 7 March 1902, where his horse was shot under him, he played a prominent part in capturing Lord Methuen's column. On 11 April 1902, at Roodewal, in one of the last important actions of the war, Kemp launched a recklessly brave attack in De la Rey's absence, on Major-General RG Kekewich's forces, once again using a mounted charge over open terrain, which had become his characteristic mode of attack.

Representing the Krugersdorp commando at the peace negotiations at Vereeniging, he urged the continuation of the war and was one of the minority of six who voted against the peace terms.

Personal life

On 10 June 1903 he married Anna Emma Bodenstein, the daughter of a former landdrost of Krugersdorp, JC Bodenstein and his wife, MC Combrink. They had two daughters and a son.

His wife died in March 1941 and his already failing health deteriorated rapidly. Despite this he remained active in parliament.

He published two volumes of memoirs, the first, published in 1941, dealt with events before 1902 and the second, published in 1942, covered the subsequent period.

His physical and moral courage cannot be doubted. He was determined, direct, forceful, impetuous in the field and in politics and, above all, a fervent believer in the republican form of government for South Africa.

He died at Piet Retief, Transvaal, on 31 December 1946.

Legacy

Memoirs

Vir Vryheid En Vir Reg – Generaal J.C.G. Kemp. 1941 NASIONALE PERS

English translation: "For Freedom & Justice". Anglo-Boer War memoir of one of the ablest Boer Generals (1st of 2 volumes – this vol. ends with the Peace of Vereeniging). Die Pad Van Die Veroweraar – Generaal J.C.G. Kemp . 1942 NASIONALE PERS

English translation: "The Road of the Conqueror". Anglo-Boer War memoir of one of the ablest Boer Generals (2nd of 2 volumes – this vol. starts with the Peace of Vereeniging, covers the 1914 rebellion and ends with Kemp as cabinet minister).