Maurice Albert Windham Rogers

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Photo by David Mckee - Sep 01

Maurice Albert Windham Rogers (VC, MM) (July 17, 1919 - June 3, 1944) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

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He was 24 years old, and a Sergeant in the 2nd Bn., The Wiltshire Regiment, British Army, (Duke of Edinburgh's) during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 3 June 1944 at Anzio, Italy, a carrier platoon was held up by barbed wire and intense machine-gun fire only 70 yards from the objective. Sergeant Rogers, with his Thompson machine-gun, crashed through the wire, ran across a mine-field beyond, and accounted for two of the enemy posts. This action so inspired his platoon, now 100 yards behind, that they advanced to the assault, but before they could reach the sergeant he had been wounded in the leg. Undaunted, he continued to advance until he was shot and killed at point blank range.

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In 2003 Sgt Rogers had a road named after him. A new industrial estate had been built in Devizes, Wiltshire (near to the old La Marchant Barracks) and the road has been called "Sgt Rogers Way". Earlier he had a block of flats 'Rogers House' named after him on the White City Estate, Shepherds Bush, London. His parents were in attendance at the opening ceremony.

This was published as the cover story for D.C. Thomson's Victor in issue 204 dated 16 Jan 1965.