To commemorate 100 years since the Armistice, we would like to introduce you to 100 members of Caulfield RSL over the next 100 days
Colonel Sir Alfred Newcombe Kemsley KBE CMG ED.MSM.
Alfred enlisted as a 19-year-old private on 5 March 1915 in Adelaide. Recognising his gifts as a manager and administrator, the army employed him on supply duties in Egypt (1916) and on the Western Front (1916-19). In October 1916 he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and commissioned. He was demobilised as an honorary captain on 6 December 1919. He moved to Melbourne in 1920. in 1923 he became the secretary of the Special Constabulary Force deployed during the police strike in October. In 1923-29 he was secretary of Melbourne’s Metropolitan Town Planning Commission. He was active in the Militia (1921-28).
Kemsley was a strong supporter of Monash’s push to build the Shrine, and when it was finally opened he became a Shrine Trustee 1938-87 and Chairman 1978-83. Appointed secretary (1930-34) to the Liquor Trade Defence Union, Kemsley organised the resoundingly successful referendum campaign against the proposed abolition of licences to sell liquor.
In 1934 he became general manager of radio-station 3UZ and in 1935-36 also served as vice-president of the Australian Federation of Broadcasting Stations. At 3UZ he engaged Sir Thomas Blamey, with whom he had served during World War I, to give a series of regular Sunday night commentaries in 1938, 'The Perils of War'. These broadcasts, delivered under the pseudonym 'The Sentinel', provided a valued opportunity for the unemployed Blamey: such a gesture was typical of Kemsley’s support for colleagues and friends.
It is rumoured that he also assisted the club in obtaining its Liquor licence in 1930. Before then the club sold “milk” in bottles delivered from Ballarat.
A foundation member (1923) of the Melbourne Legacy Club, Kemsley had exercised forceful leadership on many of its committees, and was recording secretary (1926-27), chairman of committees (1927-28), vice-president (1928-30) and President (1932-33). Along with other Caulfield members he was a strong advocate for support of ex servicemen.
Lest we forget