James Rogers (VC)
| James Rogers | |
|---|---|
 Lt James Rogers, VC | |
| Born |
2 June 1875 Echuca, Victoria, Australia |
| Died |
28 October 1961 (aged 86) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Allegiance |
 Australia |
| Service/branch |
|
| Years of service |
|
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars |
|
| Awards |
|
| Other work | Farmer |
James Rogers VC (2 June 1875 – 28 October 1961) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Early life
James Rogers was born on 2 June 1875[1] in Echuca, Victoria.[2]
Military service
When Rogers was 26 years old, and a sergeant in the South African Constabulary, South African Forces during the Second Boer War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 15 June 1901, at Thaba 'Nchu, South Africa, during a skirmish, a party of the rearguard, consisting of a lieutenant, Sergeant Rogers and six men, was attacked by about 60 Boers. When the lieutenant's horse was shot, Sergeant Rogers rode back, took the lieutenant up behind and carried him for half a mile on his own horse. The sergeant then returned to within 400 yards of the enemy and rescued two other men who had lost their horses. Afterwards, he caught two horses and helped their owners to remount. This was done under heavy fire. The Boers were near enough to Sergeant Rogers to call upon him to surrender; his only answer was to continue firing.[3]
Rogers went on to serve with the 6th Battalion Commonwealth Horse in South Africa, and later as a Lieutenant in the First World War.[1] He was wounded at Anzac Cove (Gallipoli), and returned medically unfit to Australia.[1]
Later life
James Rogers died on 28 October 1961, in Sydney. He was buried in Springvale Cemetery, Victoria. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
Honours and awards
|
|
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
_ribbon.png){kind=small} | Victoria Cross (VC) | gazetted 1902[3][4] |
 | Queen's South Africa Medal[citation needed] | with 3 clasps: CAPE COLONY, ORANGE FREE STATE, and SOUTH AFRICA 1901[citation needed] |
 | King's South Africa Medal[citation needed] | with 2 clasps: SOUTH AFRICA 1901 and SOUTH AFRICA 1902[citation needed] |
 | 1914-15 Star[1] | |
 | British War Medal[1] | |
_ribbon.png){kind=small} | Victory Medal[1] | |
 | King George VI Coronation Medal[citation needed] | |
 | Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal[citation needed] |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Service Record of ROGERS James". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
- ↑ "Boer War Enlistment Paper for ROGERS James". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The London Gazette: no. 27426. p. 2600. 18 April 1902. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
- ↑ "Award of VC - James Rogers". It's An Honour (Australian Government). Retrieved 2009-03-20.
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Victoria Crosses of the Anglo-Boer War (Ian Uys, 2000)
External links
- Anthony Staunton, Rogers, James (1873 - 1961), Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 11, Melbourne University Press, 1988, pp 441–442.
- "Find a grave"
- Anthony Staunton, Sgt James Rogers VC, A Paper Presented to the 2000 Biennial Seminar of the Military Historical Society of Australia 9–12 June 2000.