ROGERS Herbert James

Herbert Rogers was born in Camberley, Surrey on 6th March 1893, the son of Peter and Ellen Rogers (nee Wyeth). The following report regarding Herbert Rogers was taken from the Oxford Times, 11th November 1916:
Lance Corporal Herbert James Rogers, aged 22, Seaforth Highlanders, only son of Mr and Mrs Peter Rogers, St John’s ground, 211, Woodstock Road, was killed in action on October 12. Educated at Bedford House School, he adopted cricket as a profession and was qualifying for the Worcestershire Club. He joined the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, as a private in October 1914, and was gazetted to the 15th Middlesex in June 1915. Invalided out of the Army in October of the same year, he joined the Seaforths the next month and went to France in August last.

The death in action of “Bert” Rogers, writes our sporting correspondent, adds another to the growing list of the North Oxford Cricket Club who have made the great sacrifice in the war. Young Rogers could not very well help being a decent cricketer. His father Peter Rogers, has been one of the main stays of Oxford cricket for something over 20 years. And if the son’s prowess had not fully developed, he yet afforded some evidence that he would not allow the family reputation to suffer. It was some 6 or 8 years ago when he first came to the front as a right-hand leg break bowler. In local cricket he played havoc with all sorts of batsmen, and on his day was almost unplayable. On such occasions his length and break were remarkable. He attracted the attention of Mr F.H. Bacon, the Hants county secretary, and after being attached for a short time to the county ground staff he qualified for the Southern County, and played for three matches for them in 1912. He afterwards qualified for Worcestershire, and in 1914, his last cricket season, he accomplished many excellent performances with both bat and ball. Indeed it has been said, that his batting showed remarkable improvement he bode fair to become an all-round Cricketer of merit. A young fellow of splendid physique, quiet habits, and unassuming manner, he was a credit to the profession he had adopted, and genuine regrets will be felt at his early death, though the manner of it is, perhaps, such as he would have desired.

Researched by and courtesy of Pam and Ken Linge as part of the Thiepval Database Project:
http://www.greatwar.co.uk/organizations/thiepval-database-project.htm

Herbert Rogers has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Thiepval Memorial.