Commodore William Alexander (‘Bill ‘) Kemp MiD

With sadness I pass on to you the advice of the Woden Valley RSL Sub-Branch that member Commodore W.A. (Bill) Kemp RAN, Rtd. died suddenly on 26th December. Funeral details expected to be in the Canberra Times later this week.Born 29 February, 1928 in Victoria. Roman Catholic. Joined the RANC in 1946 as a special entry cadet (S) and was promoted to midshipman in the same year. Promoted to sub-lieutenant in 1948. Lieutenant, 1950. Lieutenant-Commander 1958. Commander 1963. Acting Captain, 1970 (later confirmed). Commodore, 1978. Served in Korea (HMAS Bataan, MiD, 1950-1951). Malaya (HMAS Vendetta, FESR) and Malaysia (HMAS Melbourne during Confrontation and Vietnam). I believe a son pre-deceased him a few months back. A long term resident of Garran, he only recently moved to an RSL Life Care unit in Lyneham, also ACT.He was academically bright and was rated 3 of 8 on his specialist S entry. Scored high in his professional charge exams gaining several months seniority. As a 13 year old, he applied to join the RANC in 1942.   He was first in the order of merit but subsequently joined four years later. VADM David Leach was third in merit. Bill Morrison (ALP Defence Minister) was fit but rejected, joining External Affairs later.Bill Kemp held an increasing number of senior and responsible appointments during a highly successful career. He will be no stranger to the longer serving and long retired RAN members. He was active in the Canberra veterans’ community.