Name
Charles Edward Rogers
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/10/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/67632
Royal Fusiliers *1
Posted to 2nd/2nd (City of London Regiment) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 28 to 30 and 162 to 162A and 163A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial, St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey, St Peter’s Church Memorial, Bushey Heath
Pre War
Born in 1899, Charles Edward was the son of William Gascoyne and Ellen Mary Rogers, who had five children, one of whom died during childhood. It has not been possible to find a record of his parent’s marriage.
At the 1901 Census, Charles was two years old and living in Clay Hill, Bushey, with his parents and three siblings: William J, Frederick G and Albert L. Their ages were 9, 7 and 1 year respectively. William (Snr.) is a 40-year-old labourer and Ellen is 35 years old. The birthplaces are Stanmore in Middlesex for William (Snr.), St Albans for Ellen and Bushey for all the children. Also present is 29-year-old boarder, Arthur Hosking, who is also a labourer.
At the 1911 Census, the family was living at 6 Horns Yard, Sparrows Hearne, Clay Hill in Bushey. Charles’ older brother William is no longer present, and the Census form also shows that William (Snr.) and Ellen had five children, one of whom had died in childhood. William (Snr.) is still working as a general labourer and Ellen is a laundry worker. Frederick is a farm labourer and the two younger boys are at school.
The family later moved to 21 Victoria Road, Bushey, and Charles and Albert were members of the choir at St Peter’s Church Bushey Heath.
Wartime Service
Charles enlisted initially as Private 71100 with the Bedfordshire Regiment, and was later posted as Private G/67632 with the 2nd/2nd Battalion of the London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers). He served on the Western Front and died on 26 October 1917, aged 19.
He is remembered with honour at Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing and is recorded on the panels of several regiments (panels 28 -30 & 162 to 162A & 163A). He is also commemorated on the Bushey Memorial and at St James’ Parish Church. His pension card names his mother as his dependant, with an address of 21 Victoria Road in Bushey and awarded a pension of five shillings a week from 6 November 1918.
His older brother, Frederick, also served in the war as Private 25489 in the Bedfordshire Regiment and was badly injured. He died on 7 May 1919 from Trench Nephritis, a condition first recognised by medical officers as a new disease during the early part of the First World War and was typically accompanied by bronchitis and frequent relapses. His family was told that his name would not appear on the Bushey Memorial as he did not die during the war.
Albert, the youngest, joined the Navy as a trainee in the last year of the war. A story passed down through the family is that when Frederick came back injured, he told Alfred not to enlist in the Army but to join the Navy instead. Albert served in the Navy for 28 years.
Additional Information
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Additional information also provided courtesy of Betty Burrows of Rudolph Road, Bushey. Charles Rogers was her uncle and Albert was her father.
*1 London Regiment
(Royal Fusiliers).
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
