ROGERS, John William

"KILLED IN THE GREAT ADVANCE AT PILCKEM RIDGE"

Private John William Rogers, 54348, 16th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers

Killed in Action on 31st July 1917, age 22, during the Battle of Pilckem Ridge

Buried at Dragoon Camp Cemetery, Belgium. He is also commemorated on the Canadian ‘First World War Book of Remembrance’

John was a native of Churchville (Ontario), Canada and at sometime after 1901, he moved to Merthyr with his parents. Prior to the war, John was a grocer before joining the colours at the outbreak of the war.

The Battle of Pilckem Ridge was the beginning of the 3rd Battle of Ypres. The 38th Welsh Division, which included the 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th & 17th Battalions of the RWF, stormed the ridge on the left of the attack. The weather at the beginning of this battle was torrential rain, which made it impossible to dig trenches and the ground was water logged (one of the more famous WW1 pictures showing stretcher barers is from this advance - I have included below). Due to this, the Germans constructed concrete Pill Boxes, which became another obstacle for the 38th Welsh to overcome.

The 16th Battaion played a major part in the offensive on the 31st July, with the following taken from the war dairy where hand to hand combat took place with the Germans, with fixed bayonets.

“Battalion formed up in their assembly formation, commencing at 11pm and this was complete at about 2am on the 31st July. Coffee and Rum were served out to all men previous to ZERO hour. Trench bridges were placed in position at 2am.

All wire was cut in front of trenches by parties of the Battalion before 1am. Listening posts and fighting patrol were kept out until 2.30am. All officers were at theirs posts and ready for the attack by 3am. Punctually at 3.50am (ZERO Hour), the advance commenced and as the barrage came down, the men left their assembly position and advanced towards the enemy – all lines began to move at once and although early morning was still dark, the lines moved in perfect formation.

At about 3.55am, the enemy commenced to send over some shells chiefly directed at YORKSHIRE TRNECH and BARNSLEY TRENCH and all communication trenches. At 3.57am, the front line of ‘A’ and ‘B’ companies made their way into the German front line and advanced with little opposition, reaching BLUE LINE at 4.38am.

During this advance, which was most gallanty carried out, opposition was experienced from enemy Machine Guns and Snipers, and several officers were hit, but the line was in no way retarded or held back. The majority of the enemy met with were dispatched with the bayonet, except those who gave themselves up and were taken prisoners. Rifle fire was little used, and neither were bombs or grenades. Lewis Guns came first into play at ZOUAVE HOUSE. About 50 Germans were dispatched during this advance. Hostile opposition was particularly apparent on the left of the advance, and casualties were more common on ‘B’ and ‘D’ companies……..”

A further two phases of this attack took place, and following these advances, the casualties were 7 Officers and 200 Other Ranks (one of these being John).

Son of Edward and Emily Rogers of 19 William Street, Twynyrodyn.