Caterpillar Valley New Zealand Memorial

Notice of Death appears in Jersey Evening Post of Tuesday 17 October 1916

 

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Record

 

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Saturday 24 April 1915

Fighting the Turks - A Jerseyman with the New Zealand Force. The many local friends of Mr Charles Rogers, a young Jerseyman who left the Island a few years ago to try his luck in New Zealand and who loyally joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, at present fighting the Turks, will be pleased to read the following interesting letter received from him a few days ago. It reads "Dear Em, I am sure you will be quite surprised to receive these lines from me. I have been in Egypt four months during which time we have been doing hard training. We are encamped on part of the Sahara desert and I daresay you have read in the papers of the proclamation which took place in Egypt, Cairo was alive with people on that day to give the new Sultan a welcome. Thousands of troops took part and lined the streets, these being New Zealanders, Australians, English Territorials, Egyptians and the Ceylon Planter Corps, who are attached to our Battalion. Since then we have done a little fighting on the Suez Canal. At Ismalia the Turks tried to cross the Canal on pontoons but they were utterly defeated, HMS Ocean and HMS Swiftsure doing the damage. Hundreds of Turks are now prisoners at Kasil-il-Nil barracks on the road to the Pyramids. Our Battalion was at El Kubri, 5 miles from Suez Town, we were several times attacked, the first time they came within 500 yards of the fort but did no damage. The second we cut them up but suffered no casualties ourselves. We were on the Canal for a month, the whole time in the trenches, the Turks are retreating all along the line for they have found it useless to try and cross the Canal, it being too well fortified. On 26 March our third reinforcements arrived, also the Maori Contingent consisting of 500 Maoris, New Zealanders, I can tell you, feel proud of these natives. On 27 March General Sir Ian Hamilton inspected the New Zealand Division and was pleased with the manner in which they turned out, but we are all anxious to get to the Front and when we get there, with the training we have had, we should give a good account of ourselves. The General today issued orders that we shall be leaving within a fortnight, we do not know where we will be sent to but we have five days on the steamer and each man will have 200 rounds of ammunition. The day after we land we shall be well into it. I am pleased to read in the Weekly Post that the Jersey boys have offered their services and gone to Ireland for training. Hoping this will find you in the best of health. Yours very truly, Rifleman Charlie Rogers, Wellington Battalion, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Cairo."

T/Corporal Charles (Charlie) Alfred Rogers
1st Battalion, Wellington Regiment
25/09/1916

Son of C E G Rogers of 4 Marett Road, Havre des Pas, St Helier, Jersey & Mrs Rogers of 19 Peter Street, St Helier, Jersey.

Killed in action, aged 21 years.

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Friday 7 May 1915

Jerseyman Wounded with the New Zealand Contingent. A few days ago we published an interesting letter from Private C A Rogers serving with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. We now regret to state that his father, Mr C A Rogers of Roussell Street, received the following telegram from the Records Office of the Contingent "Regret to inform you Private C A Rogers New Zealand Force reported wounded in Turkey". We sincerely hope that this plucky young Jerseyman's wounds are of a slight character and that he will soon rejoin his Regiment.

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Saturday 26 February 1916

Jerseyman Amongst Last to Leave Anzac. At every important engagement on land and sea Jerseymen will be found taking their share nobly and it is therefore not surprising to learn that a Jerseyman was amongst the last party to evacuate Anzac. Private Charles A Rogers of the Wellington Infantry Battalion was the soldier concerned. The young Jersey lad, who left the Island a few years ago, had promptly joined up when the call came from the Motherland. He has been seriously wounded during the fighting on the Gallipoli peninsula and having recovered was again in the fighting line when the decision was made to evacuate. It will be remembered what great credit has been given to the New Zealanders for this and it is gratifying to note that a Jerseyman shares in its praise. Writing home he says that fifteen men from each Company were picked out to occupy the trenches whilst the main body got away safely. "Two New Zealand hospitals were also left to be sacrificed in case any of the men were left wounded. There was no mistake here and Johnny Turk received a great surprise so I give you a brief idea of our evacuation. The Wellington Battalion left the apex trenches in batches and I left with the last men and fired my final shot at 2.10pm and quickly prepared for the beach at Anzac. All arrived quite safe and pleased that we had fulfilled the important duty entrusted to us. We are now at Ismalia where the big fight took place last year and I dare say we will remain here for a few months and then we hope the division will be sent to La Belle France."

NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Tuesday 17 October 1916

Roll of Honour. We regret to state that another Jersey Colonial, Corporal Charles Alfred Rogers, has made the supreme sacrifice. The loyal soldier's father, Mr C Rogers who resides in Marret Lane, having yesterday received the following sad information by telegram. "Very much regret to inform you information just received that Corporal Charles Rogers 1st Battalion Wellington Infantry New Zealand Expeditionary Force is reported killed in action in France on 25 September. Officer in Charge Records NZ Expeditionary Force". The late Corporal, who was only 22, was formerly employed at the Morning News and was one of the finest and most promising swimmers at the Jersey Swimming Club. Some few years back he left the Island to try his fortune in New Zealand and was doing very well there when war broke out. He promptly joined the Wellington Infantry and after a short period of training left for Egypt. He later took part in the memorable landing and evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula and later was taken ill but soon recovered and proceeded to the Western scene of warfare. A month or so ago he was in Jersey on leave and his many friends were able to renew their acquaintance with him. He was then in the best of health and was a splendid specimen of manhood, keen on his work he gave every promise of rising in his temporary profession, but unfortunately it has been willed otherwise and the parents have now lost a loyal and dutiful son and scores of friends a true and devoted comrade. We offer our sincere sympathy to the bereaved family.

(Picture courtesy of Yvonne Queree)