Name
Robert Rogers
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/03/1918
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
19344
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Braughing Village Memorial, St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour, Braughing, St Mary’s Church Golden Book, Braughing, Not on the Furneux Pelham memorial
Pre War
Born in Ferneux(sic) Pelham in 1893 the son of Ambrose & Jessie Rogers. By 1911 he was living at Malting Cottage, Braughing, where he was employed as a Farm Milkman.
He married Florence M Parker in the Summer of 1916, and he enlisted in the Army at Hertford.
Wartime Service
Killed in action near Ypres.
Some months before Robert's widow received a letter from the War Office confirming his death she had received the news indirectly through a statement made by C.Q.M.S. A.H. Silvester who was a repatriated POW of the same regiment. His letter to Mrs Rogers reads:
"As you know, your husband was a transport driver, which took him to the line every night with his regiment's rations. As a soldier he did his duty properly and well and added to the traditions of an Englishman, for I always found him willing, cheerful and British through and through to the last. It was on the night of March 23, 1918, about 11 p.m., that he was on duty with myself, taking up the battalion's rations as usual. Though the roads were bad and the enemy was constantly shelling, thanks to the splendid and unfailing courage of Robert we reached the battalion without mishap, delivered the rations, and started on our return journey.
"All went well for about 2 miles when suddenly we were met by a hellish machine-gun fire. We acted quickly, rode at a mad gallop to get out of range, but the Germans heard the rumble of the transport waggons on the hard road and got to know where we were. Suddenly we saw the flashes of rifles in the dark night and we knew we were surrounded. We then tried to break through, but we were ambushed, and the enemy came up and overhauled us.
"While we were halted a stray bullet hit Robert in the back as he was standing by his horses. Directly I found he was wounded I placed him in his own wagon and made motions to the Germans and pointed to your husband because I could not understand a word they said. They showed me the way to their First Aid Post and on arrival I took Robert in on a stretcher. He was still conscious and spoke of the hard luck of being made a prisoner. I ripped his clothes off with a knife and found he was wounded in the back and whilst they were bandaging him he fell back without a word and finished his duty.
"It pains me to think of that night. I felt I had lost one of the best lads that ever sat in the saddle. We were hurried away by the Germans but I noticed a small cemetery by the roadside, and I expect that was where he was buried. In conclusion, please accept my heartfelt sympathy in your terrible loss."
Additional Information
His entry in the Soldiers Effects Register states that he died of wounds, although Soldiers Died states Killed in Action. His widow was granted a war gratuity of £8 10s.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners
Linda Aldous, Jonty Wild, Paul Johnson
