John William Kimber

Click to enlarge and view 3 more

John Kimber (photo St Andrews University Roll of Honour)

Military Information

Date of enlistment: September 1914
Place of enlistment: Dundee
Service no: N/A
Rank: Lieutenant
Service Occupation:
Awards:
Regiment/Service: Black Watch
Unit/Ship: 1st Battalion
Place of Death: France
Age at Death: 42
Date of Death: 11.05.1918
Burial Country: France
Cemetery: Etaples Military Cemetery
Grave/Mem Ref no: XXVIII.K.2.

Personal Information

Date of Birth: 21.12.1875
Place of Birth: London
Address:
Occupation: Lecturer on Physical Education, Dundee University College
Mother:
Sarah Kimber
Father:
George Kimber
Siblings:
Jane, Sarah, Arthur, Maude, John, George, Robert & Ellen
Spouse:
Ada J. Kimber, 5 Panmure Tce, Broughty Ferry
Children:
4 Children

More about John William Kimber

For reasons unknown this man is not listed on the original Dundee Roll of Honour. J W. Kimber Black Watch

Lieutenant J. W. Kimber, Black Watch, is suffering from gunshot wounds, described as multiple and severe, and is now undergoing treatment in a French hospital. Lieutenant Kimber was well known in Dundee, and held the post of physical training instructor at Dundee Technical College.

Dundee Courier 26th April 1918

DUNDEE OFFICER SERIOUSLY WOUNDED.

Lieutenant J. W. Kimber, Black Watch, has been seriously wounded, his wife, who resides at Panmure Place, Broughty Ferry, having received information to that effect. One of his legs has been amputated.

He has been with the Black Watch since September, 1914, and has come through severe fighting. He was 12 years lecturer in physical education in Dundee University College. In 1916 he received the Carnegie Testimonial for saving the life of an officer at Bridge of Earn.

Dundee Courier 1st May 1918

DUNDEE OFFICER WOUNDED.

Lieutenant J. W. Kimber, Black Watch, who has had one of his legs amputated, was for twelve years lecturer on physical education at Dundee University College. His wife resides at Panmure Place, Broughty Ferry.

Dundee Courier 2nd May 1918

DUNDEE OFFICER DIES OF WOUNDS.

Deep regret amongst a large circle of his friends in Dundee will be occasioned by the announcement of the death from wounds of Lieutenant J. W. Kimber, of the Black Watch. He was seriously wounded on 19th ult., and died in hospital in France on Saturday. Mrs Kimber, who went to France ten days ago, has sent the sad news home.

Before the war Lieut. Kimber was instructor in physical culture in University College, and the Training College for Teachers, Dundee. He had served in the Royal Navy, and had the medal for service in China. For the subject which he taught in civil life Lieut. Kimber held the highest qualifications of the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, and in successive years he gained the esteem and the affection of the students. He joined the Black Watch in 1914.

Lieut. Kimber’s widow and four children reside at Panmure Place, Broughty Ferry.

Dundee Courier 14th May 1918

Archive Collections, University of Dundee

oesdonrtSp93fm a1946ht5va62084m30l1o2253bi2am er1N01m9g7efm1

Lieutenant John William Kimber came to #Dundee in 1905 as the first instructor in physical training at University College, Dundee (now the University of Dundee). He also acted in the same capacity for Dundee Training College (later Dundee College of Education) and was a popular figure with staff and students alike. Having previously served in the Royal Navy, at the start of the Great War he took an active part in the War effort. He soon enlisted in the 4th Black Watch, but for a time was also able to keep up his duties at the College with help from his wife Ada. In 1915 he was awarded £10 and a certificate for his heroism in trying to saving the life of a fellow officer who drowned at the Black Watch’s camp at Bridge of Earn. On 19th April 1918 he was seriously wounded while serving on the Western Front. Sadly, doctors were unable to save him and he died form his wounds on 11th May at the Duchess of Westminster’s (No 1 Red Cross) Hospital. Thankfully his wife was able to go to France to spend his last days with him. She wrote after his death ‘I have reasons to be proud of my brave husband. He has indeed done his duty well and I believe he was about to receive further promotion’. He left 4 children. The Magazine of the Dundee Training College commented that ‘the annals of Dundee’s own famous Battalion will tell of no name with clearer lustre than that of Kimber’. #archives #WeWillRememberThem #LestWeForget #RemembranceDay

See less

Information supplied by Gary Thomson, additional information kindly supplied by Michael Caldwell Hugh Macrae and Dundee University Archive Collections.

Can you tell us more about John William Kimber'? Some additional facts, a small story handed down through the family or perhaps a picture or an heirloom you can share online. Contact our curator...

THANK YOU for your interest in helping the Great War Dundee project. Please complete the short form below and a curator will contact you in the next few days.

Great War Dundee