Arthur Kemp was 19 years old, single, living in Mt Pleasant, and working as a plumber and gas fitter when he enlisted on 17th August 1914. He had been born in Newtown, NSW. On 6th May 1915 he reported to the 2nd Field Ambulance at Gallipoli with a sprained right knee, but was returned to his unit the next day. However, there was no improvement in his knee, and he was evacuated to 17th General Hospital at Alexandria, Egypt, on 16th May, 1915. After ten days he was transferred to the 1st Australian General Hospital at Heliopolis. Two months later the decision to evacuate him to Australia was made. He sailed on HMAT Hororata on 29th July 1915, and arrived on 29th August 1915. His condition was described as à'dislocated cartilage right knee'. He was sent on leave until he was fit for active service.
He reported to 3rd Military District HQ at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, on 27th March 1916. After a month's further training he was transferred on 20th July 1917 to the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance as a medical orderly. His Regimental Number changed to 70A, because there was already a No 70 in the unit. On 12th October he had 10 days at the Port Said Rest Camp, and returned to the 3rd LHFA on 22nd October 1917. On 5th January 1918 he was admitted to 74th Casualty Clearing Station with pleurisy. On 11th May 1918 he was transferred to the Rest Camp suffering from pleurisy and hepatitis., awaiting transport to Australia. On 12th July 1918 he embarked on HMAT Port Darwin bound for Australia. He disembarked in Sydney on 17th August 1918, and was sent to Melbourne by train.
He was discharged from the AIF on 3rd September 1918 as being medically unfit for active service due to pleurisy. Tree No. 14, an elm, was planted In the Ballarat Avenue of Honour by Miss Alice Torney, a 'Lucas Girl', on 4th June 1917.