20154 Private Charles Rogers 1st Battalion Yorks and Lancaster Regiment.

Charles Rogers was born on the 16th February 1890 in Dublin, Ireland and baptised there on 26.02.1890.

His parents were Charles Rogers born 1 September 1853 in Dublin and Frances nee Finlay born 1856 at Bilston, Dudley South Staffordshire. They married 22nd December 1872 Tunstall Christchurch, Frances Finlay was 18 and her father was cited as being William Finlay.

According to the 1911 census parents Charles and Frances had been married for 38 years and had 12 children, 8 living, 4 dead.

Charles Rogers known siblings were:

Thomas born June 1873, Tunstall, Staffordshire, Baptism 12 June 1874, Dublin.

Catherine born 21 June 1875, 12 Montgomery Street Dublin.

Mary Jane born 10 November 1876, 12 Montgomery Street Dublin.

Elizabeth born 1 April 1879, 12 Montgomery Street Dublin.

Charles born 14 February 1886, 9 Henry Place Dublin, Died 24.11.1887.

Esther Rogers born 29 March 1888, 2 Granby Place, Dublin.

James William Rogers born 11 May 1892, 20 Upper Hadderidge, Burslem, Staffordshire.

Florence Rogers born 10 September 1894, 16 Heath Street, Burslem.

May Rogers baptism date 16 February 1898, St Johns Church, Burslem.

From these birth records we can see older brother Thomas was born in Tunstall but baptised in Dublin which makes the families move to Dublin around the end of 1873. The first child born in Burslem after this was in 1892, giving the family potentially 19 years living in Dublin.

The 1901 census shows Charles as an 11 year old living at 3 King Street, Burslem, with his father Charles (47) a Shoe and Boot Maker, Mother Francis (45), sister Ethel (Esther) (13) and brother James W (9).

The 1911 Census shows Charles, now a single 21 year old Potters Handler, living at 12 High Street, Burslem with his parents Charles (56), Boot Maker, Fanny (55) and sister Florey (16), a Potters Transferrer.

Charles married Hilda Mountford born 27.05.1893, a pottery worker from 47 Peel Street, Burslem in the final quarter of 1911.

According to the WW1 Pension card Charles and Hilda had two children, Thomas Emmett Rogers born 19.04.1912 and James Alfred Rogers born 06.12.1913.

The Staffordshire Sentinel of 29th June 1912 reports on the Inquest into the death of Frances Rogers, Charles mother, where it is reported she suffered an accidental death after falling down the stairs.

Charles was originally a territorial soldier with the North Staffordshire Regiment with service number 8844, most likely the 7th Battalion but we cannot find any reference to this other than Soldiers Died within Ancestry. We know he was a serving soldier in 1914 as he appears on the Royal Doulton Roll of men serving during 1914. We can pick up his military service as a member of the 1st Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment, service number 20154. According to his Medal Index Card he entered the Western Front theatre of war in France on the 4th May 1915. His service would be cruelly ended within months as he is reported killed in action on the 30th September 1915, this would be in the Loos sector. The war diary of the 1st Battalion York Lancaster Regiment gives an extensive account of the events on the day Charles was killed. The famous battle of Loos was in its early stages when the battalion received orders to march to the area eventually being placed in Hohenzollern Redoubt trenches Big Willie and The Dump. Germans had attacked in strength on the 29th getting into the trenches the day before but were driven out during close quarters combat involving bayonets and bombs. The York & Lancs were ordered to withdraw the following day, the 30th, but congestion in the damaged trenches, attempts to remove wounded and enemy bombardment made it very difficult. On this day alone the battalion lost 12 dead, 15 wounded and 9 missing. Charles is one of the dead.

From WW1 pension cards and Commonwealth War Graves Commission records we can see that Charles and Hilda’s home addresses were 30 Peel Street, Burslem and 47 Peel Street, Burslem.

He left his sole legacy to his wife Hilda who also received a military dependants pension of 18 shillings and 6 pence a week from the 24th April 1916.

Charles earned the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

There are entries in the Staffordshire Sentinel.

21st October 1915 where Mrs Rogers of 55 Peel Street, Burslem is informed of the death of her husband Charles Rogers 1st Battalion York Lancaster Regiment, on 30th September and states he had formerly worked at Royal Doulton, Burslem and also that his brother James, same regiment, has been wounded.

2nd November 1917 - Solemn Requiem Mass held at St Joseph's Church, Burslem. Provides a list of those fallen who were remembered at that time. Charles is among them.

He is remembered on the Loos Memorial Panel 105-106 as well as the Royal Doulton, Kilngate Memorial and the Ireland Memorial Records 1914-18.

James William Rogers born 11th May 1892 in Burslem, the younger brother of Charles, was also mentioned to have been in the 1st Battalion Yorks and Lancaster Regiment as a private, however we have been unable to trace any service records. The Sentinel in October 1915 mentioned him as having been wounded in the announcement of Charles Rogers death. The grandson of James, Gary Rogers, has conducted extensive research to identify James in ancestral and Military records but has been unable to discover any further information.

'Charles' older brother Thomas and his wife Rachel nee Dale had a son called Samuel Rogers, baptised 5th October 1896. Samuel also served with the York and Lancaster Regiment as a Private with service number 20153 and also with the North Staffordshire Regiment as a private with service number 23434. He entered France on the 4th May 1915. It is clear from the Staffordshire Sentinel Newspaper article of 21st October 1915 that Samuel was wounded but we do not know the severity. It was in the Loos sector on the 1st October 1915. But we do know he continued to serve as his pension cards indicate he was transferred to Class Z Reserves on the 21st January 1919. They also show he suffered Mitral Regurgitation, a heart condition and had an address of 30 Peel Street, Burslem.

Staffordshire Sentinel 21st October 1915 reports that Mrs Rogers of 58 Peel Street, Burslem has been informed that her son Pte 20153 Samuel Rogers, 1st Batt York and Lancaster Regiment was wounded on the 1st October and has been admitted to hospital in Aberdeen. Prior to enlistment in 1914 he worked at the Chatterley Whitfield Colliery.

He had earned the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Samuel would go on to marry Charles’ widow Hilda in July 1919.

The 1921 census shows Hilda (28) and Samuel ( 24) a Bricklayers Labourer, Thomas Emmett (stepson 9) James Alfred (stepson 7) and Hilda (daughter 1year) living at 30 Peel Street, Burslem.

Records show Samuel and Hilda had a son Albert Leslie born 1926. Sadly in 1927 aged 31 Samuel died.

Charles’ son Thomas Emmett Rogers served in WW2 as Lance Corporal with service number 4856479 with the Leicestershire Regiment. He nnlisted 27.11.1931 in the Regular Army, Leicestershire Regiment, for 7 years service and 5 in reserve. Promoted to unpaid Lance Corporal 19.11.1934. Still serving with the 1st Bn in India in 1938. Transferred to Army Reserves 9.2.1939. Transferred to reserves 24.10.1945.

He earned the 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, War Medal and Defence Medal.

He passed away on the 22nd June 1972 and was cremated.

Sources:

ANCESTRY CENSUS 1901

ANCESTRY CENSUS 1911

ANCESTRY MEDAL INDEX CARDS WW1 + WW2

ANCESTRY MEDAL ROLLS

ANCESTRY ENGLAND AND WALES REGISTER OF CIVILIAN DEATHS 1916-2007

ANCESTRY ENGLAND AND WALES REGISTER OF MARRIAGES

ANCESTRY SOLDIERS DIED IN THE GREAT WAR FORCES WAR RECORDS FAMILY INFORMATION GARY ROGERS

STAFFORDSHIRE SENTINEL

COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION