Pte 24997 Ellis Vernon Rogers

• Age: 20
• From: Tarporley, Cheshire
• 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.

Ellis Vernon Rogers was born 15th October 1895 at Tarporley, Cheshire and was baptised on 01st December 1895, the son of Thomas Rogers and his wife Ruth (nee Vernon). His parents married in 1886 at St Helen, Tarporley and had eight children. Ellis had older siblings Ethel Mary, Florence Eveline, and William, and younger siblings Amy Jessie, Agnes Winifred, Thomas, and Henry.

At the time of the 1901 census the family is living at 61 High Street, Tarporley, where his father, 35, is a tailor working at home on his own account. His mother, 33, was born in Tarporley.  They have four children, Ethel, Florence, William, and Ellis, 5.  Living with them is his widowed maternal grandmother Mary Vernon, 75, and his cousin Elizabeth Vernon, 23.

He was educated at Tarporley Church Of England Primary School. Ellis was also a Scout leader with 1^st Tarporley Troop.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 3 Coronation Terrace, Tarporley, Cheshire. His father, Thomas, is a widower aged 45, born in Chester in 1866 occupation, tailor. His wife Ruth had died aged 41 in 1910. At the time of the Census he had seven children living with him; Florence Eveline aged 22, born 1889 a laundress, William Vernon aged 17, born 1894 a grocers assistant, Ellis Vernon aged 15, occupation boot-makers assistant, Amy Jessie aged 13, born 1898, Agnes Winifred aged 9, born 1902 and Thomas Vernon aged 7, born 1904 are at school, and Henry Vernon aged 3, born 1908 were all born in Tarporley. He also has a grandson Walter Edward Rogers aged 1, born 1910 in Tarporley living with him. His eldest sister Ethel is married and living in Tarporley.

He enlisted in Prescot joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 24997 and arrived in France on 29th December 1915, earning the 1914-1915 Star.

Ellis was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 20, 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.

Ellis 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.”

About two weeks before he died, Ellis wrote to the Rector of Tarporley, Canon Walter Hughes:

‘I don’t feel very well, I suffer from headaches and dizziness, which comes on very often. If I ever get back to Tarporley I shall expect to see the church packed out, mostly with men who have been in the firing line, because if a man gets through this war and doesn’t thank God whenever he can, I shall think he is mad.’

His father must have been notified of Ellis' death within a few short weeks, as a service was held in Tarporley Parish Church on Sunday 09th September 1916 in memory of Ellis and another local lad. The service, described as impressive, drew a large congregation.

Chester Chronicle - Saturday 09 September 1916 

MEMORIAL SERVICE—A service was held in the parish church on Sunday evening in memory of Richard Hall (late of Eaton Hill, Tarporley), who had come over from Canada with a Canadian regiment, and died from wounds received in France and Ellis Rogers, King’s Liverpool Regiment, killed in action in France. The service was very impressive, Mr. W. E. Garner (organist) played “O rest in the Lord,” and the close of the service the “Dead March in Saul.” There was a large congregation. 

He earned his three medals. 

His Army effects and a War Gratuity of £6 went to his father Thomas, then living at 5 Park Road, Tarporley, who was awarded a pension of 5/- a week from November 1918.  The reason for the long delay since Ellis's confirmed death is not known; possibly his father did not immediately apply for a pension. 

Ellis is commemorated on the following memorials -

Tarporley War Memorial 

St. Helen's Churchyard, Tarporley

The Scout Association's First World War Roll of Honour.

His father appears to have died aged 61 in 1927.  

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