RODGERS, James
| Service Number: | 2997 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 56th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Bendigo, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Fractured skull in accident, King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London, England, 31 January 1917, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Kensal Green (St. Mary's) Roman Catholic Cemetery Australian. 2117. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Inglewood War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 2997, 4th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 2997, 4th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Argyllshire, Sydney | |
| 31 Jan 1917: | Involvement Private, 2997, 56th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2997 awm_unit: 56th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-01-31 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Died on this date – 31st January…… James Rodgers was born at Bendigo, Victoria around 1876.
[Note: Parents’ names are not listed on Attestation Papers - so cannot positively identify them]
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 18th June, 1915 at Liverpool, New South Wales as a 39 year old, single, Labourer from Railway Station, Bendigo, Victoria.
Private James Rodgers, Service number 2997, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on HMAT Argyllshire (A8) on 30th September, 1915 with the 4th Infantry Battalion, 9th Reinforcements.
He was admitted to No. 2 Australian General Hospital at Ghezireh on 25th December, 1915 with an injury to his Head. He was discharged to his Unit on 29th December, 1915.
On 6th January, 1916 Private Rodgers joined 4th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir.
Private Rodgers was transferred from 4th Battalion to 56th Battalion from 16th February, 1916 at Tel-el-Kebir. He was taken on strength of 56th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir on 16th February, 1916.
He reported sick at Ferry Post on 30th March, 1916 & rejoined his Battalion on 8th April, 1916.
On 19th June, 1916 Private Rodgers embarked from Alexandria on H. T. Huntsend to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 29th June, 1916.
Private Rodgers reported sick at Marseilles on 29th June, 1916. He was admitted to 2nd Australian General Hospital on 30th June, 1916 from H. T. Huntsend with Furunculosis & discharged to Anzac Base Details at Moussot on 11th July, 1916. Private Rodgers rejoined 56th Battalion in France on 22nd July, 1916.
He was awarded 21 days Field Punishment No. 2 on 7th August, 1916 for creating a disturbance in an Estaminet (small café selling alcoholic drinks).
On 10th September, 1916 Private Rodgers was awarded 28 days Field Punishment No. 2 for being drunk in billets.
Private James Rodgers was sent to A.P.M. (Assistant Provost Marshal), 5th Australian Division on 12th September, 1916 & rejoined his Battalion on 9th October, 1916 from Detention.
He reported sick on 3rd November, 1916 & was admitted to 36th Casualty Clearing Station in France with Exhaustion. Private Rodgers was transferred to Ambulance Train & admitted to 12th General Hospital at Rouen, France on 5th November, 1916. Private Rodgers was discharged on 9th November, 1916 to Base Depot. He was marched in to 5th Divisional Base Depot at Etaples, France on 11th November, 1916 from Hospital.
On 21st December, 1916 Private Rodgers reported sick while posted at 5th Divisional Base Depot at Etaples, France. He was admitted to 26th General Hospital on the same day with Chronic Bronchitis. Private Rodgers was transferred to Havre on 30th December, 1916 & embarked for England on Hospital Ship Warilda.
Private James Rodgers was admitted to 5th Southern General Hospital, Southsea, England on 1st January, 1917.
He was admitted to King George Hospital, London, England on 30th January, 1917. The Hospital Admissions form recorded “Haemorrhage of brain due to a fracture of the Skull. Condition on admission – Deep Coma, Pupils – right pin point – Left – slightly dilated. No divergence and no convergence of eyes. Complete paralysis of right side. Double incontinence. Respiration labourer. Patient was unconscious from the time he was admitted until he died at 8.30 am on 31-1-17.”
Private James Rodgers died at 8.30 am on 31st January, 1917 at King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London, England.
An Inquest was held & the Verdict of Coroner’s Jury was “Accidental Death.” Cause of death from a Fractured Skull through accidentally falling whilst under the influence of drink. (Mr Ingleby Oddie, Coroner).
He was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Kensal Green, London, England.
Advice was sent on 20th April, 1920 to his brother, as the next of kin, advising that the remains of the late Private James Rodgers had been exhumed & reinterred in Grave No. 8.
This is now recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as St Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green, London, England.
No next of kin could be located in 1922 so his Medals, Memorial Scroll & Memorial Plaque were sent to “Untraceables”.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/kensal-green---st-marys-rc.html
Click images to start slideshow.