Pte 235265 John Rodgers

• Age: 42
• From: Manchester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

John Rodgers was born in 1877, the son of John Rodgers and his wife Sophia (nee Greaves) who married in 1872 at St John's Church, Manchester.

John enlisted in Manchester and served originally as Private 202673 of the Yorkshire Regiment. Following a transfer he was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 235265 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918 aged 42 during the German Spring Offensive. Details of the action were recorded in the battalion diary:

By the 25^th April the battalion had taken up positions of readiness in the Voormezeele sector. According to the battalion War Diary, on the night of the 27^th, at 8.30 p.m. they moved to the line to relieve 4^th Bn, relief completed about 1 a.m.

28^th – At about 1 p.m. a company of composite battalion gave way on the left of our line and the Bosche penetrated from the Canal Bank to the left of my battalion front, which position he maintained despite 5 hours fighting. My reserve company was ordered to counter-attack and restore the position at 7.45 p.m. but enemy laid down a barrage at 7.43 a.m. and the counter attack was unable to proceed. The enemy bombardment lasted until 10.30 p.m. and I then organised a defensive flank.

29^th – At 3.30 a.m. heavy enemy bombardment opened, followed later (9.00 a.m.) by enemy attack and our line was forced back to G.H.Q.1 where I organised and held on to the position. The enemy got through on both flanks practically surrounding 2 of my companies. ‘A’ company was actually surrounded and after severe fighting were captured.

John has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to widow Elizabeth Ann and children Eveline, Doris and Ivy.

His father died on 04th February 1919, aged 66. His mother died just a few days later on 15th February 1919, aged 64.

John's widow Elizabeth remarried to John Minchion in 1920 at Prestwich Registry Ofifce. They had 4 children together John J. b.1920, Elizabeth b.1922, Mary b.1923 and Christopher b.1925.

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