Heslop’s Local Advertiser 12/1917
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Martin Rogan was born in 1888 at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham, he had an elder sister Edith born in 1886 and a younger brother James born 1891. His father James Rogan born 1859 was an Irish immigrant and married his mother Margaret McCann, the daughter of Irish immigrants born at Felling in 1861, at Gateshead in 1884. They settled at Davison Street, Felling where James was employed as a labourer at the chemical works. When Margaret died in 1893, Martin was only 5 years old, his father had moved by 1901 to 12, John Street and although his children are listed as 15, 13 and 10 years of age they are not listed in the census as scholars. By 1911 James Rogan, son James (18) and son-in-law Patrick Quigley, Edith’s husband, were all employed at the colliery, James Snr as a shifter, James Jnr and Patrick as labourers below ground, Martin (23) was employed as an engineer storekeeper at the engineering works, Edith was a housewife, they all lived together in 2 rooms at 4 Davidson Street, Felling. A few months later Martin married Mary Cuthbertson with whom he had 3 children, Edward born 1911, Margaret 1913 and William 1915.
On the outbreak of war Martin Rogan enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, November 14th 1914, assigned as Private 193 to the 24th (1st Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, a Pal’s Battalion. After initial training near home they joined the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division at Ripon in June 1915 moving to Salisbury Plain in late August for final training. They left as part of the British Expeditionary Force in January 1916 concentrating near La Crosse near St. Omer. In February they were in the trenches at Bois-Grenier with more experienced soldiers and had been divided between the Sherwood Foresters, the Lancashire Regiment, the Northamptonshire Regiment and the Worcestershire Regiment. During March they were withdrawn from front line duty in order to prepare for the forthcoming Spring Offensive. The 24th Battalion took part in the opening battle on the Somme at the Battle of Albert, July 1st-13th 1916, where they captured Scotts and Sausage Redoubts.
Private 24/193 Martin Rogan Northumberland Fusiliers is deemed to have died in action on or since July 1st 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,246 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating servicemen from Britain and South Africa who died on the Somme 1915-1918 who have no known grave. He was 28 years old.
His widow Mary received all monies due to him, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal and a pension for herself and their children until she remarried at Gateshead in 1918 to Benjamin K. Hailes with whom she had a daughter Emily. Details of demise unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 12/1917 carries a notice which reads:
“Private Martin Rogan, N.F., killed in action, July 1st, 1916 aged 29 years. Eldest son of James and the late Margaret Rogan, Felling.”
