Regiment: Rifle Brigade.
Died: 15 September 1916 aged 34 in France. Killed in action at the Somme.
Battle: Battle of the Somme. Cemetery: Serre Road Cemetery No 2 XXXIII
Son of Reginald N. Rogers, Carwinion, Falmouth, b. 1882.
Middle V—VI. Minor Scholar. School Prefect. XI Cricket 1900,01; XI Football 1899, 1900.
Worcester College, Oxford; Third Class Class. Mods.; B.A. (Third Class History) 1905; played Association Football v. Cambridge 1904,05.
Joint Head Master of Kent House School, Eastbourne.
Great War, 2nd Lieutenant 15th Rifle Brigade and 7th Bn. Rifle Brigade.
'At Malvern, as afterwards at Oxford, Reggie Rogers was one of those who got full value out of both. His many-sided success was the outcome of high capability both of mind and body, combined with an intense love of life, every hour of which he lived. By his many friends at School and College, and among the boys at his school at Eastbourne—who have written most gratefully of his influence there— his memory will long be cherished as of one who lived and loved his life, but loved honour more. He fell in action while gallantly leading his men to the attack on September 15th.' (Malvernian, Nov 1916).
On the 14th Sept 1916, the battalion moved to Delville Wood in the night and deployed for attack.
On the 15th Sep, at 6.20am (zero), the advance began in conjunction with an intense artillery barrage on the enemy's defences (there had been no preliminary bombardment). The orders were to seize the TEA support trench (reported obliterated) and the 3rd (Switch) line. TEA trench was found to be strongly held and proved to be a serious obstacle. Both here and before the 2nd objective (Switch) the Bt suffered severely. It pushed on in small parties to its final objective (GAP trench) which it captured.
Officers, 1 killed (2nd Lt Rogers), 1 missing, 7 wounded. O.R. 18 killed, 75 missing, 210 wounded. (Unit War Diary).
Unit War Diary:WO 95/1896/1