Major John Rogers 12th Battalion Devonshire Regiment 71109

He was involved in air landing on 24th March 1945. He was wounded and I believe he was evacuated. He was awarded the Military Cross for his actions at that time.
I would like to find out what happened to him after that, whether he returned to fight and when and where he died.

 

for your interest

A Coy commanded by Maj John Rogers were the only Coy from the 12th Devons to land by glider on D-Day and were attached to Parker Force commanded by Col.R.G.Parker deputy brigade commander. As all the rest under the command of Lt.Col R.G.Stevens came by sea (apparently there were not enough gliders to accomodate the rest of the Battalion) and landed near Quiesteram and marched inland to rejoin A Coy.
71109 T/Major Rogers J. Wounded in action - evacuated OC A - Coy
12th Battalion Devonshire Regiment


Major John Rogers

Service records would help you

 

Major John Rogers, 12th Battalion Devonshire Regiment, 71109

Born 28th August, 1916.

2nd Lt. 28th January, 1937.

Lt. 28th January, 1940.

O.C. 'A' Coy: T/Capt. John Rogers (71109), 9th February, 1942.

O.C. 'A' Coy: T/Maj. John Rogers (71109), D-Day 6th June, 1944.

T/Maj. John Rogers was wounded on 10th August, 1944 and did not participate in the Ardennes/Holland campaign.

22nd December, 1944. T/Maj. John Rogers (71109), appointed A/Brig. 6th Airlanding Bde. residues.

Devon R. Lt. (War Subs. Capt.) John Rogers (71109) to be Capt., 28th Jan. 1945

T/Maj. John Rogers did not returned to Germany after being wounded on 24th March, 1945. Evacuated the following day.

War Office, 12th July, 1945.
The Military Cross
Major (temporary) John Rogers (71109), The Devonshire Regiment (Dolton, Devon).

War Diary
13th July, 1945.

Jungle Cadre left Battalion. Proceeded to transit area, under 2i/c T/Maj. John Rogers, M.C.
War Diary doesn't state if he departed the U.K., or his destination.

Battalion disbanded 5th November, 1945.

Devon R. Capt. (War Subs. Maj.) John Rogers, M.C. (71109), to be Maj., 28th Jan. 1950.

He remained with the battalion until at least the above date and probably beyond, as there is no record in The London Gazette of a transfer to another regiment.

Only one battalion active during 1950's. Appointments greatly reduced.

Do not know where or when he died. Can't find him in Ancestry.

 

Devon R.
Capt. (War Subs. 'Maj.) J. ROGERS, MJC. (71109), to be Maj., 28th Jan. 1950, with precedence next below Maj. P . F . ANDERSON, M.C. (71108).
Page 962 | Supplement 38847, 24 February 1950 | Lon...

and the gazette for his MC:

Major (temporary) John ROGERS -(71109), The Devonshire Regiment (Dolton, Devon)
Page 3592 | Supplement 37172, 10 July 1945 | London...

 

Likes to all ...

Major Rogers must have returned to his unit at some point as he is present with other Officers in a post Investiture photo dated April 28, 1945. "The ceremony took place in a barn nr. the banks of the River Elbe."

Official photo at the IWM:

FIELD MARSHAL MONTGOMERY DECORATES AIRBORNE TROOPS

Officers named on the Pegasus Archive:

General



Regards ....

Added - To be on safe side another photo of Major Rogers is needed to confirm that is actually him in above Officers Group ... ?

 

Thank you very much.

 

Thank you very much. Interesting he's from Dolton, I've never heard of it so something else to look up.

 

This is very interesting. At least I know he didn't die during the Normandy invasion. But now I must go on the search for another photo.

 

Thank you David for so much information.

 

Cee,
I know you love a good now/then photo and seeing exact locations...
I did some work on this location before. It’s in Melbeck just South of Luneburg.
Search for AZ Cars, UelzenerStr, Melbeck and its that building.
I’m trying to post a picture....

 

I have that photo with all the names on and that is Mr Rogers. He’s standing next to Bertie Mills of 7 Para.

 

Cee
You are perfectly correct. My mistake. It was 3.30am Eastern Australia time. I was so focused on cropping the image of Maj. John Rogers from the photo you refer to and finishing the post, that I didn't read the caption.

However, there is no written evidence in the War Diary or the Historical Diary of Events to suggest that Maj. John Rogers played an active role with the 12th Devons in Germany after being evacuated on the 25th March, 1945.

Unsurprisingly, he is not on the Field Return Of Officers for 7th April, 1945.

He is not shown commanding a company on 18/19th April, 1945.
7 Majors, Warren, Carey, Bannister, Nation, Palmer, Strawbridge and Snell at this time.

He is not one of the 3 officers, Lt's. Salt, Sanders and Storey, joining the battalion on 28th April, 1945. Although he may have travelled with them to collect his medal.

Best way to resolve the issue is for somebody to provide a Field Return Of Officers for late April or early May, 1945.

 

LinDevon as stated before apply for his service records Get a copy of military service records

unless another forum member comes up with more info,you will keep going around in circles

 

I too have been searching for a birth or death record for John Rogers born 28 Aug 1916, dont know where he was born or where he died

Is it possible to verify that was his actual birth date - I note there is a Frederick Rogers born in Devon on that date, but just because he was in the Regiment doesnt obviously mean he was born in the County - is it possible that was his baptismal date or his registration date - trying to find some answers as to why he isnt seemingly showing up on records

For example
John Rogers in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007
Name: John Rogers
Registration Date: Jul 1916
[Aug 1916]
[Sep 1916]
Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep
Registration District: Bideford
Inferred County: Devon
Mother's Maiden Name: Fraser
Volume Number: 5b
Page Number: 734


Name: John Rogers
Death Age: 40
Birth Date: abt 1917
Registration Date: Jan 1957
[Feb 1957]
[Mar 1957]
Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration District: Honiton
Inferred County: Devon
Volume: 7a
Page: 471

But it could also be
Births Sep 1916
Rogers John Hill Dudley 6b 1828
Rogers John Fraser Bideford 5b 734 (Noted above)
Rogers John Tyers Bucklow 8a 310


It seems we need something extra, Parents name(s), wife name, something to narrow him down

TD

 

Have you contacted the museum or perhaps try to contact the authors of this book
. The book entitled Devotion to Duty is written by Nick Speakman and Christopher Jary.

Devotion To Duty Book Launched - The Keep Military Museum, Dorchester, Dorset

 

LinDevon

The following document can be purchased from The Sandhurst Collection for £5.99 if you want a clearer copy.

Personal Information Sheets
John Rogers - RMC Form 18A Personal Detail Sheets Aug 1935 Intake



The details I can read are:-

Enters Royal Military College, Sandhurst 30th August, 1935

Date of Birth 24th August, 1916

Schools
Warden House, Upper Deal, Kent
Sherborne Public School

Permanent address of Parent or Guardian
William Henry Rogers
Orleigh Court,
Bideford, Devon

Based upon the information above, I searched Ancestry.com and found a number of documents for you to look at.
You'll have to decide for yourself if they are your John Rogers.

Some basic facts:-
Born 24th August, 1916
Married Oct/Nov/Dec. 1939
Died 26th January, 1957, Aged 40.
Probate Pennyhayes Farm, Shute near Axminster, Devon