Born 13/07/1916 in Brampton, ON., the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred “Alf” J. and Mary Ann Kemsley of 23 Gladstone Avenue, Chatham, ON., brother of Alfred “Alf”. The family moved to Chatham in September of 1921. He attended Central and McKeough Public Schools and Chatham Collegiate Institute. He was employed as a florist prior to his enlistment he was also a handy carpenter. Married to Barbara (nee Parson) CDN 16/09/37, (died 2011) and had a daughter Sharon Joan (Johnson) aged five living at their home at 31 Gladstone Ave., Chatham when he joined up.

Prior to enlisting with the Perth Regt, he began with the Kent Regt. as L/Cpl. A470379. Appears on the “Muster Roll” of the 2^nd Bn., Kent Regiment (MG), N.P.A.N. (date unknown).  In 1942 the Colonel of the Kents convinced Syd to go to ‘active service’ by going to officer training.

Sydney enlisted in 1943 with the Perth Regt. training at No. 12 Basic Training in Chatham, then Ipperwash and later going to Brockville to complete an officer’s training course  in April 1943, reported in the CDN 17/06/43.  When he graduated he came back to Camp Ipperwash waiting for a overseas posting which was taking a long time. The British Army was very short of  Junior Officers and appealed to the Canadians for help. Syd was one of sixteen at Ipperwash and was soon on his way.

In the fall of 1943 Canadian Infantry Officers were given the opportunity to volunteer to serve with Regiments of the British Army under the “CANLOAN” scheme and 623 Infantry and 50 Ordnance officer signed up. They wore an identity tag prefixed “CDN”.

Going overseas 4/07/44 he arrived in England and volunteered to transfer to the Imperial Army, 22/04/1944 CDN he was immediately loaned to the Royal Norfolk Regt of the British Army as part of the CAN LOAN program to augment the loss of junior officers in the British units.

In the fall of 1943 Canadian Infantry Officers were given the opportunity to volunteer to serve with Regiments of the British Army under the “CANLOAN” scheme and 623 Infantry and 50 Ordnance officer signed up. They wore an identity tag prefixed “CDN”.

CANLOAN officers took part in bitter fighting in Northwest Europe in 1944-45 many landed with Airbourne Forces on D -1 and with the beach assaults on D-Day. Some officers also volunteered for service in Italy and South-East Asia.

By the end of hostilities 128 were KIA, 310 wounded, 27 taken as POW = 465 (75% of the total Force). Many acts of valour were also recorded with 41 Military Crosses awarded, 1 Silver Star (US), 1 Distinguished Service Cross, 4 Croix de Guere (Fr.) 1 Member of the British Empire, 1 Order of the Bronze Lion (Dutch) and a unrecorded number of Mentioned In Dispatches.

He would see his first action on D-Day plus one  part of the first line of reserves landing on 8 June. He was a platoon commander in the Royal Norfolk Regt. 

Sydney would be wounded in the face and head fighting at Caen 8/07/44,CDN 18 & 20/07/44, five days before his 28^th birthday.  “Syd had taken some shrapnel in the helmet which grazed his skull. The medics put on a bandage, put his helmet back on his head and he was back in action. His next hit went right through his neck just missing his jugular vein by half an inch”. This was more serious.  Evacuated to England on a landing craft filled with other stretcher cases. He would spend time in several British hospitals.   He would recuperate at the Princess Royals Convalescent Home. After being released would join the Royal Warwick Regt. where he would receive his Captaincy but “declared unfit for further from line duty and he spent the rest of the war training new recruits in Northern Ireland.”  . CDN 4/02/46. His wife and daughter Sharron Joan resided at 31 Gladstone Ave., Chatham, ON. CDN 31/08/45

Being very close to the action ‘Sid’ wrote to his wife Barbara. At the time of his letter he was living in a slit trench “from which the opposing Germans were clearly visible”. He found the French people very friendly and with a little French he learned in high school he was able to get along in ordinary conversations. CDN 4/07/44

Syd’s wife would receive the following letter:

Sincerely regret to inform you that lieut. Sidney Alexander Kemsley officially reported wounded in action July 8. Nature and extent of wounds not yet available. When further information is obtained it will be forwarded as soon as received.”

Syd worked all of his life in the floristry business from 1931 – 42 with his father and from 1946  – 1956 with his brother Alf and then founded Syd Kemsley Florist until he retired in 1977. He taught florist courses at the University of Guelph. Syd was also involved in many community organizations including the Shriners and was the President of the Chatham Kiwanis club for 60 years.  He was the Chairman of the Kiwanis Music Festival.

Sydney passed away Saturday, 8 February, 2014 at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance – Sydenham Campus, Wallaceburg, ON. at the age of 98 years, interment was at Maple Leaf Cemetery, Chatham, ON.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

CDN (11/04/44, 31/08/45), IODE(P), , , WHATHG – W. F. Martin, CCI-RH, 2KRMR

Birthplace	Brampton, Ontario
Religion	Anglican
Marital Status	Married
When Enlisted	January 1943
Next of Kin	Wife- Mrs. Barbara Parsons Kemsley

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