Benjamin Richard Corley Rogers was born in 1890 at Oswestry. He was the eldest son of Benjamin and Emma Rogers. They would have another 7 children of which 6 survived. In 1891 Benjamin and his parents were living at Alpha Terrace, Oswald Road along with Emma’s family. By 1901, now with 3 more children, they had moved to at Meltham Villas, Lloyd Street and by 1911 had moved again to 42 Liverpool Road. His father worked as a steam engine maker. After school Benjamin started work with the Border County Advertiser before getting a job in 1906 as a clerk in the passenger department of the GWR at Oswestry. He was promoted in 1909 and moved to the GWR Wrexham office and was boarding at 65 Edward Street, Wrexham, his salary was £55 per annum.

Sometime before the war the family moved to London living at Tollington Park near to Finsbury Park. He enlisted, probably in 1914, at London joining the Royal Army Service Corps – making use of his skills as a transport clerk. He went out to Egypt with his unit in June 1915. At some time after he transferred to 16 Bn Royal Fusiliers, a reserve and training battalion based in England and was subsequently posted to the 6 Battalion. He was selected for officer training and was commissioned on 30 January 1918. He was posted to 6 Battalion and then attached to 3 Bn Royal Fusiliers and  joined the battalion on 19 August 1918 at Martin Eglise Camp No. 4 near Dieppe –  he was in a draft of 11 officers, all from 6 Reserve Bn RF. He was reported as missing, killed in action on 17 October 1918 during the crossing of the River Selle west of Honnerchy village. A fellow officer wrote to his parents – ‘He was killed instantaneously by a bullet wound in the head and apparently suffered no pain, he was very popular with the men in his platoon and greatly esteemed by his brother officers and I am sure he will be greatly missed by all ranks and I myself miss him as a personal friend and our deepest sympathy is felt for you and other members of the family in your sad loss. Your son received a proper burial a C of E Padre being present and he was buried near the spot that he fell with other men of his battalion’. He was buried in Highland Cemetery, Le Cateau. His headstone reads, ‘Until the day dawns and the shadows flee away’. He is also commemorated on the GWR Roll of Honour at Chester Station and on Ruabon War Memorial..

Acknowledgements.

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