A/Sgt 24924 Robert Davidson Rodgers

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Robert Davidson Rodgers was born in Walton, Liverpool in the first quarter of 1895 the only son of Alexander Rodgers and his wife Alice Maud (nee Tunstall). He was baptised on 14th March 1895 in St. Mary's Church, Walton. His parents married on the 18th August 1892 in the same church.  

At the time of the 1901 census the family is living at 80 Albany Road off Warbreck Moor.

His father Alexander is aged 40, a timber salesman, mother Alice M. is aged 38, children Agnes M. 7, Robert D. 6, Isabella G. 4 and Dorothy 1(everybody born Liverpool). They also have a servant Annie Hampson 19. 

Robert was educated at Longmoor Lane Primary School and at the Liverpool Institute.  

The 1911 Census shows the family are living at 9 Church Avenue, Walton. 

His father, Alexander is shown as born in Liverpool in 1860, his occupation is shown as a commercial traveller selling timber, whilst his mother was born in Liverpool in 1863(married 18 years 4 children). Robert is now 16 and is shown as an insurance clerk. He has three sisters living in the household; Agnes May a short hand typist b.1894, Isabella Gertrude b. 1897 and Dorothy b. 1900. Also present is a servant Sarah Munnery.  

Prior to the war he had previously served in the 10th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment (Liverpool Scottish) enlisting in 1913 when he was 18 years of age. 

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving with the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment, he arrived in France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915. He had attained the rank of Acting Sergeant No 24924 when he was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 21, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

17th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July. 

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone. 

Robert was originally declared as Missing and his family posted a notice for information in the local press:

MISSING

Sergeant R.D. Rodgers of the "Pals" has been missing since July 30th. Any information to his parents at 6 Wembley Gardens, Orrell Park, Liverpool.

Sadly his death was confirmed and his family posted a notice in the local press:

"RODGERS- July 30, killed in action, aged 21 years, Sergeant Robert D Rodgers (Bob), K.L.R. the dearly loved only son of Alexander and Alice M Rodgers, 6, Wembley Gardens, Walton."     

Robert has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Probate was granted to his father, Alexander on 27th October 1916.

In the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading Lost At The Battle of Guillemont, Robert was mentioned in a tribute to both himself and Tom Curwen:

“In honoured and affectionate memory of Tom Curwen, M.M. corporal 19th King’s (Liverpool Regiment), and Robert D. Rodgers, corporal (acting sergeant) 17th King’s (Liverpool Regiment), killed in action July 30, 1916. – 10 Wasdale Road, Walton.”

This post concerning Tom Curwen and Robert Rodgers, from 10 Wasdale Road was from his uncle Charles John Rodgers and family. 

He was remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

 His father Alexander received his Army effects and a War Gratuity of £9-10s. The pension card in the name of his father at 6 Wembley Gardens, off Orrell Lane, does not stipulate the amount awarded. His documents were not received in the Pension Office from the Paymaster until 25th November 1919, the reason for the long delay is not known. 

After his father's death in 1931 aged 70, his mother continued to receive the pension. 

Liverpool Daily Post - Wednesday 11 March 1931 

RODGERS— March 9, suddenly at 6 Wembley-gardens, ALEXANDER, the loved husband of Alice Maud Rodgers. Funeral at Longmoor-lane Cemetery to-morrow (Thursday) at 2.30 pm. 

In 1939 his mother, now 77, is still at 6 Wembley Gardens, with daughter Isabella, 42, married daughter Dorothy Marsh, 40, and her husband, and a domestic servant.   

His mother lived to 92, and died in 1954, still living in Wembley Gardens.

We currently have no further information on Robert Davidson Rodgers, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.