Royal Gloucestershire Hussars & Remount Service
Howard William Kemble was born on 12 June 1871. In 1901 he married Margaret Emily Heron- Maxwell at St George’s, Hannover Square, London. They lived at The Homestead, Quenington, near Fairford.
Howard was a member of the Gloucestershire Yeomanry, attached to the Army Service Corps Remount unit at Blackheath, London. On 15 August 1916 he transferred to the Territorial Reserve as a Lieutenant and from the Territorial reserve to the General List, as a Temporary Lieutenant, on 13 October 1916, at which date he fully transferred from the Yeomanry to the Remounts.
On 28 May 1918 he was promoted to Captain with the Remounts, a rank held until his death. This promotion reflected his appointment as a Superintendent at the Remount Depot, Swaythling, near Southampton. On 12 July 1919 he became a District Remount Officer, No 3 District, No 1 Circle, Southern Command. He was de-mobilised on 28 July 1919 but retained his appointment as a District Remount Officer until 30 November 1919. He was probably stood down at that date as a result of medical problems – he had a history of cardiac illness, which rendered him unfit for overseas service. (His Service Record is in the National Archives under WO339/139225.)
He died on 2 January 1920 at The Acland Home, St Giles, Oxford age 49. He left £49,057 7s 2d (£49057.36) as his estate – a substantial sum for those days. His wife lived until 1949.
His grave in Quenington Church Cemetery is marked by a stone cross.
His Medal Index Card notes his service with both the Gloucestershire Yeomanry and the Remounts and the fact that when Mrs Kemble applied for his medals in June 1920 she was told that he was ineligible, having had no overseas service.
Researched by Graham Adams 4 October 2011