Commandant Jan Kemp was born on 10 June 1872.
As a young Burgher he was part of the commando that halted the Jameson Raiders at Doornkop in 1896.
At the outbreak of the South African War he saw action in Natal. When the Guerrilla Phase of the war started he saw action at the Battle of Nooitgedacht, where he was slightly wounded. He became one of General de la Rey’s most able officers and towards the end of the war saw action at Vlakfontein, Moedwil and finally at Roodewal, where he lead a frontal attack on the British.
At the peace negotiations in Vereeniging he was one of the minority of senior Boer Officers who wanted to carry on with the war.
