Pte 32730 William John Dickson Rogers

• Age: 35
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

William John Dickson Rogers was born in the December quarter of 1881, the son of John and Emma (nee Dickson) Rogers, who were married in 1879 at St Paul, Tranmere. He was baptised as John Dixon on the 5th Oct 1881 at Holy Trinity, Toxteth, parents address 77 Mann Street.

On the 1891 census the family are living at 7 Denman St, Kensington.

Father John is aged 35, a cotton porter b.Upton , mother Emma is 41 b.West Kirby, children born Liverpool, William 10, Sarah 8, and Louisa 4.

On the 1901 census the family are still living at 7 Denman St.

Father John is aged 46, a rubber warehouseman , mother Emma is 54, children William J.D. aged 19 a drysalt warehouseman, Sarah J. 18, and Louisa 14.

On the 1911 census the family are still living at 7 Denman St.

Father John is aged 57, a dock labourer, mother Emma is 63(married 32 years 4 children 3 still alive), children William John 29 a personal attendant, Louisa 23 a shop asistant in hardware shop.

The mother Emma died aged 65 in 1914.

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 32730 when he was killed in action on the 31st July 1917, aged 35, during the Third Battle of Ypres.

17^th Battalion

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17^th Battalion on the left, and the 20^th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21^st and 90^th Brigades were still pinned down  and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

Despite this they pushed on until their flank was just touching Clapham Junction. They then dug in and awaited the inevitable bombardment which hit them soon after. Despite this, they held onto the ground.  

During the action and their time in the line the 17^th Battalion lost three officers and 79 men killed or died of wounds and four officers and 198 men wounded. They were eventually relieved on the night of 3^rd -4^th August.   

William has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Reported killed in the Weekly Casualty List 18th Sept 1917

King's (Liverpool Regiment) - Rogers, 32730, W.J.D.(Kensington, W.);

Soldiers Effects to Louisa Rogers, Pension to Louisa and father John.

Probate 1917

ROGERS William John Dickson of 7 Denman Street Liverpool Private 17th Battalion K.L.R. died 31 July 1917 in Belgium Probate Liverpool 10 October to Louisa Rogers spinster. Effects £294 1s 8d.

The father is a widower and is shown on the 1921 census still living at 7 Denman St. He drops off the Electoral Roll in 1922 at that address, and he was aged 72 when he died.

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