Dam river in Kent perhaps, the place of one’s birth (6,7)

I believe the answer is:

mother country

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'place of one's birth' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'dam river in kent perhaps' is the wordplay.
'dam' becomes 'mother' (I've seen this before).
'river' becomes 'r' (abbreviation).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'kent perhaps' becomes 'county' (kent is a kind of county).
'r' placed within 'county' is 'country'.
'mother'+'country'='MOTHER-COUNTRY'

'the' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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