ROGERSON, George
| Service Number: | 3163 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 September 1915, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 14th Machine Gun Company |
| Born: | Blackburn, Lancashire, England, August 1874 |
| Home Town: | Balmain, Leichhardt, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tram Driver / Weaver |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Fromelles, France, 20 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez Plot XXI. Row F. Grave 16. Inscription: HE DIED AS HE LIVED HONOURABLY |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3163, Depot Battalion , Sydney, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Dec 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3163, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Dec 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3163, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suevic, Sydney | |
| 16 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 55th Infantry Battalion, T.O.S. from 17th Infantry Battalion | |
| 24 Apr 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 14th Machine Gun Company, T.O.S. from 55th Infantry Battalion | |
| 19 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3163, 14th Machine Gun Company, Embarked Alexandria for B.E.F per H.M.T. "Canada" | |
| 25 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3163, 14th Machine Gun Company, Disembarked Marseilles, France | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3163, 14th Machine Gun Company, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3163, 14th Machine Gun Company, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), Killed In Action | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3163, 14th Machine Gun Company, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3163 awm_unit: 14 Machine Gun Company awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-20 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
George ROGERSON (Service Number 3163) was born on 23rd August 1874 in Lancaster, England. He began working with the NSW Tramways on 2nd July 1910, as a conductor in Sydney. He stayed in this position for just over five years. He was released from duty to join the AIF on 15th September 1915. He was 45-years-old when he enlisted. On 23rd December 1915, he embarked from Sydney on HMAT A29 ‘Suevic’.
By 16th February 1916, he was in Zeitoun (Egypt). He was allotted to the 55th Infantry Battalion, and proceeded to join them. Shortly after, on the same day, he was taken on strength in Tel-el-Kebir. During April 1916, he spent the period from 1st April to 23rd April in the School of Instruction in Zeitoun. Following his time in the School of Instruction, he was transferred and taken on strength of the 14th Australian Machine Gun Company on 24th April 1916. After two more months in Egypt, he embarked from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Forces on 19th June 1916, and then disembarked at Marseilles on 25th June.
One month later, he was reported missing in action in France on 20th July 1916 – the Battle of Fromelles. Unfortunately, it was concluded in a Court of Enquiry held on 14th September 1917 that he was killed in action on the same date he was reported missing.
In a letter from his wife sent in 1921 in an attempt to locate his final resting place, she says:
‘I cannot give you any help as to finding out anything about my husband. The last I know is that he was seen going over the top at Fleurbaix or thereabouts, with a machine gun under his arm… I am sorry for my own sake, as it would have comforted me to know just where he was buried but it cannot be’.
By 1924, his remains had been discovered, and he was buried in Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery in Souchez, France.
After his death, his wife was given his medals on his behalf – the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.
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