Pte 86974 Ernest Ambrose Robson

Sadly, his mother died when Ernest was not yet two years old, in April 1898, at the age of 24.  

 

In 1901 his widowed father is still at 287 Scotland Road. Albert, aged 32, is a cotton manager, Irene is  aged 5, and Ernest, is aged 4.  Also in the household is his widowed paternal grandmother, Ann Robson, 66, and aunt Mary Robson, 35, domestic housekeeper. 

 

His father remarried the next year, to Elizabeth Ferguson. They had children Albert, Lilian, and William.

 

In 1911 the family is living at 20 Walter Street (on the corner of the Dock Road near Stanley Dock). His father, is aged 42, and is a dining room proprietor, working at home. They have two servants assisting in the business. His sister Irene, aged 15, is living with an aunt and uncle. His stepmother Elizabeth is 32, Ernest is aged 14, and is a telegraph messenger with the Bootle Post Office. Albert is aged 7, Lilian, is aged 4 and William, is aged 2.  Not long after the census, William died, in July 1911, aged 2.

 

Albert and Elizabeth had two more daughters, Minnie in 1912, and Elsie in 1918.  Minnie died at age 5, and was buried in December 1918, just one month before Ernest died.

 

His father Ambrose died in September 1910, aged 53.

Yarmouth Independent  Saturday, 8 October 1910

Rogers - On September 28th, at Caister Road, Ambrose Rogers, aged 53 years.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 6 Well Opening, Great Yarmouth. His mother Emmeline is a widow, aged 55, born in 1856 and is a home worker. She had been married for 23 years before her husband Ambrose died and they had four children. Walter aged 18 born in 1893 is a Bricklayer’s labourer and Edward Ambrose is aged 15, and employed as an errand boy. She had two further daughters who had left by the time of the 1911 Census, Hannah and Selina.

Ernest Ambrose enlisted in Great Yarmouth in August 1914 as No.12019, with the Norfolk Regiment. He arrived in France on the 30th April 1915.

Yarmouth Mercury Saturday, 07th August 1915;

WANTED A FOOBALL.

E. ROGERS, 12019, writes:

"Dear Sir, I hope you will not think me taking a liberty in writing to you. But I have seen in your valuable paper, which I receive from home every week, where the soldiers are receiving articles through the medium of your paper. There are several Yarmouth boys in this regiment, and they have asked me to write on their behalf. They wish to know if any of your numerous readers could send us a football to amuse ourselves with while we are having a well earned rest from the trenches, as we are in a lonely part of Flanders and have to make our own amusements. It seems rather a funny time to ask for a football, but the evenings are very cool out here, and we are anxious to keep our practice up till we return to dear old Yarmouth and renew our acquaintance with the 2nd Division League and the Aldred Cup, which I had the pleasure in helping to win for St. George's in 1912-13. Well, we have been out here two months and have had our baptism of fire and have had several spells in the trenches since, and am glad to that say that we have had only a few casualties up to the present. We all think it good of your paper to put the Active Service List in every week, and through it we have found several of the Yarmouth boys who we have lost touch with since enlisting. Well, I hope you will find room to insert this appeal in the good old Mercury. So I think I will close now, wishing you and your staff and the good old paper every success.

P.S .- I forgot to state that we are not allowed to send our address. But if anyone who may answer this appeal would kindly go to Mr. Dawson, Moy's Office, King street, my old secretary, he will give it to them "

Yarmouth Mercury Saturday, 6th November 1915;

Ernie Roger's letter is worth repeating. It gives some faint idea of what has been happening recently in France. He says "I now take the opportunity to write you a few lines. I am sorry I have not written before, but I expect you know what big job we had on. The regiment did a good bit of work in taking the German trenches. I see that Henry Roberts was wounded, and hope he is going on alright. I have heard that _____ and Clifford Elliston are missing, and I am afraid it is correct. We had rather an exciting time taking bombs, etc., up to the trenches; had to dodge a few Jack Johnsons, but thank God I came back safe. My word, you ought to have heard the noise; it was terrible. Our boys simply fought like tigers. Well, we are out now for a rest, the first real rest since being out in France, not bad for Kitchener's Nuts. I have just read the Notes in the Mercury about Alf Sillett's football match. I often wish when having a kick that we were playing St. Paul's again for that cup. Well, after this war we shall have to have our soldiers' team out. Don't you keep talking about that basket-ball too much, it makes me wish I could have a game. Well, I shall have to come to a close, or my horse won't get groomed down to-day. I hope you will excuse the writing as I am writing in a cart. It is my sleeping quarters-a bit hard for the hips."

Ernest crossed the River Mersey and enlisted in Wallasey, Cheshire (perhaps because he was under age and did not have his parents’ permission). Based on the amount of the War Gratuity, Ernest enlisted in about December 1914, when he would have been 18 years old.  He served in the Royal Army Medical Corps as Private 52826. His service record has not survived, so the details are not known.  His medal card shows that after training Ernest shipped to the Balkan front and arrived in Salonika on the 04th August 1915.  It is not known when or why he was transferred to the 18th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. He may have been invalided home with malaria (which caused more casualties than enemy action in the Balkan theatre). He served in the 18th Battalion as Private 86974.

 

 

WITH THE CROSS KEY LADS

Have just received a brief letter from Ernie Rogers, old boy, footballer, and a member of "St. George's Men's:-

" A few lines in answer to your ever welcome letter, I'm still in the "pink", the weather has been rotten of late - plenty of wind and rain, and a course "ditto" mud. You will note that the "Green 'Uns" have come into being again - and very nice too. You no doubt have seen by the papers that we have been having it "hot" these past three months, and this Battalion has made a name for itself, and being placed second to the Guards Brigade - quite an honour for us - we have done our share. Never shall I forget my 21st birthday, we made an advance of 1,400 yards on that day. We certainly have been in most "big things" up-todate, and I thank my god that I have come through without a scratch. We are enjoying a well earned and quiet rest and tomorrow we shall show them how we play football in the old town. Have my doubts about getting "home leave" for Christmas, but cheer up, shall all be home soon. Lance Corporal Rogers was with the Norfolk's from August 1914, but since has been transferred to the King's Liverpool's. My time to wend my way across the Suspension Bridge en route for Vauxhall is drawing near, and these, my few remaining hours or being spent in the service of the old Institute. He was hunting around for a good gym instructor this morning, and after telling the tale, as a secretary is supposed to do, I captured my prey in the person of Jack Staff, one of our enthusiastic Harriers and supporters away back in '08. So all is well and next Wednesday evening will find the lads with a leader - good luck to all. I am coming back, and my experience of the past coupled together with my enforced personal separation for "Duration", will fit me for the grand work". 10th Nov 1916.

The battalion War Diary records:

 

 

“25th December, Christmas Day.  The day, after church parades, was observed as a general holiday. At 1300 hours the men sat down to their Christmas dinner, the Sergeants acting as waiters.  A good dinner had been obtained, consisting of roast pork, potatoes, cabbage and carrots, there being a liberal helping for each man. There was also a free issue of beer and the usual Christmas pudding. At night the Officers had their dinner, as did the Sergeants, and a very enjoyable day, free from the discomforts of the three former Christmas Days abroad by the battalion, was spent by all ranks.”  The following entries show parades, education, training, and route marches, until the end of January. 

 

Ernie's death was featured in the Yarmouth Independent on the 09th December 1916:

CROSSKEY NOTES FROM FRANCE

Another month has commenced, and bad news reaches me. Yet one more old St Peterite has been added to the roll of honour - and but a lad Ernie Rogers was a typical Crosskey youth, a lover of football and a good sport. He played for the old school team and the past few seasons for the St. George's Men's Service. In him we have lost a good chap today, Dec. 1st was the anniversary of his birth, and I had written him, but I am of the opinion he never received the greeting, for his death was instantaneous on the 20th of last month. The chaplain wrote consoling his bereaved mother, and our deepest sympathy is with his many sorrowing relatives. He being related to me, I feel deeply the sad loss, and the desire for peace is the stronger by such losses. The best men of the Nation and Empire or being slain. News is to hand that his brother Walter in the Northampton's is keeping well. Ernie the younger brother enlisted in the 8th Norfolk's at the outbreak of war with many of the St. Peter's lads. During the past few months he has been attached to the Liverpool's. [His medal roll shows 7th Btn.]

There is no mention of accidents or casualties in the Battalion War Diary.

He earned his three medals.

Soldiers Effects, Army Pay £8 9s 1d, £10 War Gratuity and Pension to his mother Emmeline Ann.

 

Sadly, after surviving war and disease in the Balkans, and the fighting on the Western Front, 22-year old Ernest died on the 07th January 1919 of accidental injuries (Soldiers’ Effects states fractured skull).  

 

Ernest now rests at Huy (La Sarte) Communal Cemetery in Belgium where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE".

 

The 50th (Northumbrian) Casualty Clearing Station was posted to Huy from January to May 1919. The Communal Cemetery contains a plot of 109 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and seven war graves of other nationalities.

His brother Walter was sadly killed in action in July 1917 whilst serving as Private 17773 1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment.

Yarmouth Mercury Published Saturday, 20th July 1918:

PTE. WALTER WILLIAM ROGERS.(with photo)

Private Walter William Rogers, of the Northants Regiment, has been missing in France since the 10th July, 1917, in the Battle of the Dunes, if anyone could give his mother, Mrs. Emmeline Rogers, of 13, Maygrove Road, Great Yarmouth, any information concerning him she would be so glad, as she still believes her dear boy to be alive.

[The Battle of the Dunes in 1917, also known by its German codename Operation Strandfest, was a sudden and devastating German spoiling attack launched on July 10, 1917, against British forces on the Belgian coast near Nieuwpoort (Nieuport)]

Elizabeth (listed as widow in one record and as mother in the other) received Ernest’s Army effects of £23-8s-11d and a War Gratuity of £23.  His father, living at 16 Mitylene Street, Liverpool, received a pension of 5/- a week (showing rank as Private).  CWGC Graves Registration form and two of three pension cards show Lance Corporal.  

Ernie's death was featured in the Yarmouth Mercury Saturday, 23rd November 1918;

ROGERS. - In fond and loving memory of my dear boy Lce. Corpl. Ernest Ambrose Rogers, who was killed in action in France, November 20th, 1916, aged 21.

How I prayed for his safe returning 

And the clasp of his loving hand, 

But God has postponed that meeting

Till we meet in a Better Land.

"He rests with the Brave."

From his sorrowing Mother and Sisters.

Ernest’s death appeared in the Weekly Casualty List of 18th February 1919:  

 

 

 

 

His father died in 1927, aged 59, and his (step)mother Elizabeth died in 1947 aged 69.