Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Robert Rodgerson was born in Castle Ward, Northumberland on 13 December 1898. On the 1901 census, he was two years old, living at Wood Row, Denton Burn, Northumberland, with his father Matthew (53), a coal mine hewer, mother Margaret (35), and siblings Thomas (17), Sarah (8), Matthew (3) and Jane (10 months). On the 1911 census, Thomas, aged 12, was still living with his parents at the same address together with siblings Mathew (13), Jane (10), Isabella (8) and niece Florence (11). By that time, two children of the family had died. On both the 1901 and 1911 census’ the surname was given as Rogerson.

Robert enlisted as a Private on 20 November 1915 stating that he was 19 years and 11 months old. However, it appears that he was only 16 years and 11 months old. He was 5’4” tall.

On 3 December 1916 he was relegated to Army Reserve Class W(T)TF Reserve. This may have been as a result of a letter written by his mother, accompanied with a copy of his birth certificate, stating that Robert was under age.  Correspondence in his service record seems to indicate that his mother had contacted the Army maybe asking for release for both Robert and his brother Matthew, either because they had joined under age or on compassionate grounds as, according to a Police report requested by the Army, his mother’s circumstances appeared to be financially difficult, following her husband’s death in 1915.

Robert transferred to The Royal Scots on 24 February 1918.  He  was killed in France on 12 March 1918 and is buried at Croisilles British Cemetery, 7.5 miles south east of Arras.  He was 19 years of age.  His personal effects comprising of photographs, a religious medallion, card and a wallet were sent to his mother.  He was awarded the British War and Allied Victory Medals.

The next of kin at the time of his death was his mother, Maggie Rodgerson, of Milkwell Cottage, St Helens Street, Corbridge on Tyne.

Is this story familiar to you?  Can you tell us more about this soldier and his family?