ROGERS, James Alfred


No.6830, Private, James ROGERS
Aged 27


2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on/since Wednesday, 26th August 1914


Born in 1887 (2nd qtr Bury St.Edmunds 4a:1886) son of James Charles and Mary Ann ROGERS (née MANISTER)

1891 census...Aged 4, he was at 10 Raingate Street, Bury St.Edmunds with his father James Charles ROGERS [31] bricklayer; his m other Mary Ann [25]; brother Harry [1] all born in Bury St.Edmunds. Also there was his aunt Rosina MANISTER [12] born Needham Market and uncle Frederick James MANISTER [18] a soldier born Bury St.Edmunds

1901 census...Aged 14, coal server, he was at 17 Raingate Street with his parents, brothers Harry, Jack [6] and George [2] and sister Ellen B [5].

1911 census...Aged 24, a bricklayer's labourer, he was still at 17 Raingate Street with his parents; brothers Harry (milk carter), Jack (iron worker), George and Frank [5]; sisters Florence [9] and Pollie [7]. His mother had lost 5 of her 13 children.

He married Alice Amelia MITCHELL [14-1-1890], they had two children, Alice Amelia Mary Jane [29-6-1913] and James Alfred Charles [7-5-1915], she later married Walter DAY in 1921, of Old Post Corner, Ringshall


He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds.

The 2nd Suffolks were at Le Cateau during the retreat from Mons. Having reached Le Cateau the Suffolks received an order to stand and fight, which they did, despite being in the most unsuitable defensive position. They, and the Argyll Highlanders, fought for around nine hours before being overwhelmed by the Germans . No-one seems to admit to issuing the first order for them not to retreat, but their heroic endeavours held the Germans long enough for much of the British Division to escape. The battalion suffered over 720 casualties, killed,wounded or missing.

CWGC records show that they had 74 killed on 26th, only 7 having known graves.


The International Red Cross record..
James appears on a German list dated 10th April 1915 of men "beerdigung unbekannt" or "burial unknown"
so he does seem to have been captured on 26th. This leaves his date of death as unknown still.






photo C.W.G.C.


James Rogers is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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