Pauline Priano: Tyne Cot Memorial panel
Pauline Priano: Tyne Cot
Derek Johnstone provided the following information:
John Henry Rogers was born at Bedlington, Northumberland in 1890. His parents were John Rogers, a coal hewer in the mines, born at Ponteland in the same county, and Euphemia Rogers from Musselborough, Scotland.
John Henry in 1891 was living at Doctor Terrace where his father was a miner. There were nine people in the family house, including his siblings Sarah 14, Ellen 13, Agnes 10, Euphemie 8, Barbara 7, Jane Ann 4 and John Henry Rogers who was aged 1.
The 1901 Census shows the family still at Doctor Terrace which now includes additional siblings William 9, Isabella 8, George 6, another son 5. In total John Henry’s parents had eleven children.
By 1911, John Henry was 21, employed as an underground labourer and still living with his family at 30, Doctor Terrace, Bedlington.
After enlisting at Bedlington, he went to France in September 1917. Records checked indicate John Henry was not married and his effects went to his father. CWGC records show John’s father was living at 17, Millbank Terrace, Bedlington after his son's death; his mother Euphemia died in 1914. Sadly his brother George Thomas Rogers also enlisted and was killed in action nine days after John on 13th October 1917.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Henry 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.
John Henry enlisted after the declaration of war in August 1914 at Bedlington, assigned as Private 13641 to the Northumberland Fusiliers he joined his regiment at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Posted to the 12th Battalion, part of Kitchener’s Third New Army he and the new recruits left Newcastle and concentrated in the Tring area as part of the 62nd Brigade, 21st Division. After training at Halton Park during the summer the Division returned to billets at Tring, Aylesbury, Leighton Buzzard, High Wycombe and Maidenhead for the winter. In May 1915 the infantry returned to Halton Park moving to Witley Camp, Surrey, August 9th, and departed in 2 waves to France. Advanced parties embarked September 2nd, Private Rogers departed September 9th 1915 joining his regiment concentrated near Tilques. At full strength by September 13th the division was marched across France, and put into reserve for the British attack at the Battle of Loos, not seeing front line action until the 26th when it lost 3,800 men without any gain. In late 1916 they were moved to the Somme seeing action at the Battle of Morval, September 15th-18th, where the division captured Geudecourt, before being sent to the Arras sector during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line and fought during the Arras Offensive, April 9th-May 16th 1917. Their numbers were so depleted that August 10th 1917 the 12th and 13th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers joined forces becoming known as the 12/13th Battalion. The 21st Division left France for Belgium joining the British action during the final stages of the 3rd Battle of Ypres (July 31st-November 10th 1917), at Polygon Wood, September 21st-October 7th 1917.
Private 13641 John Henry Rogers, ‘B’ Coy, 12/13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action October 4th 1917, only 9 days later his brother Private George Thomas Rogers Northumberland Fusiliers was reported as missing and later struck off, presumed to have died, October 13th 1917.
John Henry’s sacrifice is recorded as one of 35,003 names inscribed on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, Zonnebeke, near Ypres, Belgium, which forms the backdrop to Tyne Cot Cemetery. The memorial commemorates the names of British and New Zealand forces who died on the Ypres salient between August 1917 and November 1918 who have no known grave. He was 28 years of age and single.
His father John received all monies due to him from the Army and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, sent to him at 17, Milbank Terrace, Bedlington, Northumberland.
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.
Morpeth Herald 23/11/1917 carries a brief obituary:
Private John Rogers, 30 Doctor Terrace, Bedlington, has been killed in action.
Morpeth Herald 02/11/1917 carries the following:
ROLL OF HONOUR
ROGERS.- Killed in action, October 4th, 1917, aged 28 years, Private John Rogers, N.F., dearly beloved and eldest son of John and the late Euphemia Rogers, 30 Doctor Terrace, Bedlington.- Deeply mourned by his father and brothers, sisters, and Bella, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and all friends.
John Henry Rogers is remembered in Bedlington on B15.02, B15.06, B15.11, B15.16 and B15.26 page 46
