Derek Johnstone has provided the following:
George Thomas Rogers was born at Bedlington, Northumberland in 1895. His parents were John Rogers, a coal hewer in the mines, born at Ponteland, and Euphemia Rogers (nee Drysdale) from Musselborough, Scotland.
The 1901 Census shows the family living at Doctor Terrace, Bedlington. George Thomas came from a large family; in total his parents raised eleven children by this time.
George Thomas was 16 years old in 1911 and employed as an ‘underground landing lad’ living with his family at 30, Doctor Terrace, Bedlington.
After enlisting at Bedlington, he went to France in September 1917.
The records checked indicate George Thomas was not married and his effects went to his father. The CWGC records show George Thomas’s father was living at 17, Millbank Terrace, Bedlington after his death, his mother Euphemia having died in 1914. George Thomas was the younger brother of John Henry Rogers who died on the 4th October 1917. Within nine days this family lost two sons.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George Thomas Rogers, was one of 11 children of whom, as per the 1911 census, only 7 had survived. His father John Rogers was born at Bedlington, Northumberland, his mother Euphemia Drysdale, April 24th 1852 at Stenton, East Lothian Scotland. Euphemia had left Scotland finding work as a servant in the home of farmer William Thompson and family of Earsdon Forest, Hebron, Northumberland. She married John Rogers in 1873, district of Morpeth, Northumberland, settling at Bedlington. By 1891 they were living at Doctor Terrace, Bedlington, built by the Bedlington Coal Company, John was employed at the colliery as a coal miner, supporting his wife and 7 children. Sarah born 1877, Ellen 1878, Agnes 1881, Euphemia 1882, Barbara 1883, Jane Ann 1886 and John Henry 1890. Ten years later Sarah was in service, Ellen had married in 1898 to Archibald Walker, sadly Agnes had passed away in 1889, Euphemia (18) was employed as a stocking maker, details of Barbara, unknown, also possible deceased, Jane Ann and John Henry although of school age are not listed as scholars. Euphemia had also given birth to 4 other children, William Sharp Rogers in 1892, Isabella in 1893 who died in 1901 aged 8 years, George Thomas 1894 and James 1896. Only the male members of the family were still living at home with their parents by 1911 in 3 rooms at 30, Doctor Terrace, Bedlington, Northumberland. All employed by Bedlington Coal Company they worked underground, John (54) as a labourer, John Henry (21) a hewer, William Sharp (19) a set rider, George Thomas (16) a landing lad and James (15) a pony driver. Euphemia Rogers nee Drysdale died within months of the commencement of WW1 in 1914, aged 60 years, registered in the district of Morpeth, Northumberland.
George Thomas enlisted after the declaration of war in August 1914 at Bedlington, assigned as Private 19559 to the Northumberland Fusiliers he joined his regiment at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The new recruits later concentrated in Hampshire as part of the 68th Brigade, 23rd Division. During the height of winter they were transferred to Aldershot until they moved to Shorncliffe, Kent in February 1915, where some of the infantry were involved in constructing defences to the south of London during April and May. The division was moved to Bordon, Hampshire at the end of May for final training and the first wave of men departed to France landing at Boulogne, August 25th 1915 and concentrated near Tilques. Private Rogers departed to join his regiment October 25th 1915 and posted to ‘A’ Coy 10th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. Before the arrival of Private Rogers the 23rd Division had moved to the Merris-Vieux Berquin area for trench familiarisation by the more experienced 20th and 27th Divisions N. F. before taking over in their own right the Ferme Grande Flamengrie to Armentieres-Wez Macquart road, September 14th 1915. George Thomas joined his regiment during the Battle of Loos, September 25th-October 8th after which they remained in the sector until they were relieved, January 1916, spending time at rest near Bruay until returning to the front line, March 3rd, taking over the area around Boyau de L’Ersatz and the Souchez River from the French 17th Division, and subjected to heavy shelling. Some of the men with mining experience during March 1916 were transferred to the newly formed Tunnelling Companies of the Royal Engineers. The main body of the regiment returned in April to Bruay area for a second period of rest before returning to the Souchez sector as the Germans attached at Vimy Ridge, May 16th 1916, where they remained until their withdrawal during June 1916 to Bomy to undertake extensive training in preparation for the forthcoming offensive on the Somme.
The opening battle on the Somme was expected to take place June 29th, however, due to bad weather it was postponed until July 1st 1916. The 10th Battalion as part of the 23rd Division participated during the opening battle at Albert, July 1st-13th 1916, where it captured Contalmaison, saw action at Bazentin Ridge July 14th-17th, Pozieres July 23rd-September 3rd, Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd, Morval September 25th-28th, Le Transloy October 1st-18th including the capture of Le Sars.
In 1917 the 23rd Division returned to Belgium fighting at the Battle of Messines, June 7th-14th, Menin Road September 20th-26th, Polygon Wood September 26th-28th and the 1st and 2nd Battles of Passchendaele.
Reported as missing, after expensive investigations as to his whereabouts, Private George Thomas Rogers was declared to be presumed as dead, his death declared as October 13th 1917. His family had received an earlier blow with the news of the death of his elder brother John Henry, October 4th 1917, also serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers.
After the Armistice at the request of the French and Belgian Governments the clearing of the battlefields began, isolated graves and small concentrations were brought into lager cemeteries for reburial. In 1920 remains of British servicemen were found at map reference 28NE J11d. 20. 40, those of Private 19559 George Thomas Rogers Northumberland Fusiliers were unmarked and identified by means of his pay book. January 24th 1920 he was brought into, “The Buttes” Polygon Wood Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, near Ypres, Belgium, for reburial with all honour and reverence by an Army Chaplain, he is at rest gave XVI. C. 11. At the time of his demise in 1917 he was 23 years of age and single.
His father received all monies owed to him by the Army, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at 17, Milbank Terrace, Bedlington, Northumberland, and possibly his son’s pay book which was forwarded to Base in 1920.
John Rogers died aged 82 years during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1929, registered district of Morpeth.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George Thomas Rogers is remembered in Bedlington on B15.02, B15.06, B15.11, B15.20 and B15.26 page 46
