Jan Kemp (general)
| Jan Christoffel Greyling Kemp | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 June 1872 |
| Died | 31 December 1946 (aged 74) |
| Allegiance |
 South African Republic South Africa
|
| Rank | Combat General |
| Commands held | Krugersdorp Commando |
| Battles/wars | Magato War Battle of Pietershoogte Battle of Nooitgedacht Battle of Rooiwal Battle of Tweebos |
| Other work |
Clerk Farmer Member of Parliament Cabinet Minister |
Jan Christoffel Greyling Kemp (10 June 1872 – 31 December 1946) was a South African Boer officer, rebel general, and politician.
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.
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 , 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.
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