J T Rogers ( 1894 – 1918)

John Thomas (Jack) Rogers was born on 6th June, 1894 and baptised at St Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth on 30th June. He was the son of Thomas Rogers, a farm labourer, and his wife, Sarah. The family lived on Bernard’s Hill and, later, Severn Street.

After leaving school, John worked as a labourer. He was a member of the militia, so he was probably mobilized at the outbreak of war. He served in the 1/4th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry – a Territorial unit which was immediately sent out to India to take over garrison duties from the regular army. After serving in Hong Kong, the Andaman Islands, Singapore, Rangoon, Celon and South Africa the battalion was sent to France, to the Western Front, in July 1917.

Jack Rogers would have fought at Passchendaele. He was killed in action several months later on 19th April, 1918, during the German Spring Offensive. He is buried in Bedford Road Cemetery, Ypres.

Private Rogers, 200146, was awarded the Victory and British medals and the Territorial Forces War Medal.

KILLED IN ACTION
[Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 11th May, 1918]
Information has been received by Mrs. Rogers of Rindleford, Bridgnorth, of the death of her husband, 200146 Signaller J. Rogers, C Co., 1/4 K.S.L.I., who was a son of Mr. T. Rogers, 23 Bernard’s Hill, Bridgnorth. In conveying the news to the widow, Captain Geoffrey L. Peace, 4th K.S.L.I., under date of April 20th says: “It is with very deep regret that I write to tell you of your husband’s death in action. This was a bad blow to the Signal Section and to myself, for ‘Danny,’ as he was called, was one of the most popular men in the section, and had served with me so long that his fall was a sad shock to all of us. Always a hard worker, and willing and cheerful under all circumstances, he was one of my most useful men. I hope that this expression of sympathy on the part of myself and the section will go some little way to comfort you in your sad loss.”

The war memorial in St Mary Magdalene church includes a John L Rogers, who does not appear on the memorial in Castle Gardens and who is probably an uncle of Jack.