Thomas Hulman Kemp was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England on 18 January 1869.

He was one of two children born of an English father, John Kemp (b. 1840 in Southampton) and an Irish mother, Sarah Kiernan (b. 1841 in Co Cavan). His father was a master mariner and had been married to his wife Sarah in Brisbane, Australia around 1865, she having emigrated there in the early 1860s. The couple had one child there, Matilda (b. 1866), before they returned to Britain and settled in Southampton where Thomas was born.

Thomas first appears on the 1871 census when he and his family were living at 1 Peto (?) Street, St Mary, Southampton. He was still described as a schoolboy at the time of the 1881 census when the family were living at 104 Buchan Terrace, Brinton Road, St Mary, Southampton. He later went to sea and would be absent from the 1891 census when his family were living at 198  Derby Road, Southampton.

Thomas was married in Southampton in 1893 to Kate Fielder (b. 1869 in Southampton) and the couple had one child, a daughter, Kate Evelyn (b. 1894). The family were living at 15 Foster Road, Southampton on the 1901 census and Thomas was described as a marine engineer. They had moved to 11 Cedar Road, Bevois, Southampton by the time of the 1911 census. His daughter Kate was described as an apprentice milliner.

When he signed on to the Titanic, on 6 April 1912, Thomas gave his address as 11 Cedar Road, (Southampton), and his previous ship as the White Lady. As Extra assistant 4th Engineer he could expect to earn monthly wages of £10, 10s.

Thomas Kemp died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

His widow and children received relief from the Mansion House fund:

Number 151. Kemp, Kate, widow. Kemp, Kate Evelyn, child. Kemp, Sarah, mother. All class C dependants.

Thomas' widow Kate was never remarried and she remained living in Southampton, later at 41 Elmes Drive. She died on 18 August 1951.¹

Their daughter Kate Evelyn was married in 1918 to William Claud Stent (1894-1972) and the couple had two daughters, Joyce (1921-1952) and Beryl (1922-1990). Kate died in Winchester, Hampshire in 1985.

Thomas Hulman Kemp is remembered on his wife's headstone in Holy Trinity church cemetery Millbrook, Southampton (section 8, plot 104).