ROGERSON, James
| Service Number: | SX3730 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 May 1940, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Rutherglen, Scotland, 14 April 1904 |
| Home Town: | Woodville, Charles Sturt, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Ice vendor |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Papua New Guinea, 7 September 1942, aged 38 years |
| Cemetery: |
Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea B3. B. 16, |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Laura District Honour Roll |
World War 2 Service
| 27 May 1940: | Enlisted Private, SX3730, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 May 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, SX3730, 2nd/27th Infantry Battalion | |
| 9 Aug 1941: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, SX3730, 67 Australian Infantry Battalion | |
| 7 Sep 1942: | Involvement Private, SX3730, 2nd/27th Infantry Battalion, Kokoda - Papua | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement |
"One of the Best"..
Jim's grave marker is simply marked:
"One Of The Best"..
A True Aussie ANZAC Legend..
R.I.P. from the Rendell Family..
Submitted 9 August 2023 by Matt Rendell
Grand Uncle James
Grand Uncle James was born at 4 Ruskin Terrace, Rutherglen, Glasgow, Scotland on 14 April 1904. He was the youngest son of John and Mary Ann Rogerson (ms Waggett) and had 2 sisters, Elizabeth and Mary and 4 brothers, John, Thomas W (died in 1897 before James was born), Thomas and Ralph. In January 1907 the family welcomed another daughter, Janet Smith.
In about 1910 the family moved to 'Bluevines' 13 Stirling Drive, Rutherglen, Glasgow. James and his siblings went to the Rutherglen School. The family owned Rogerson & Co. Trunk Manufacturers and James worked with his father and brothers making trunks.
In February 1927 the family emigrated to Australia, disembarking in Melbourne and travelled to Numurkah in northern Victoria to stay with an aunt of Mary Ann's. John Rogerson Snr left the family in Victoria and travelled to Adelaide where he bought a house at 47 Stanley Street, Woodville North. John then went back to Numurkah to gather the family and move them to South Australia.
James worked with his brother Ralph in an ice carting business until he enlisted in 1940. James joined the 2/27th Infantry Battalion and was sent to Palestine and the Middle East. James was wounded on a number of occasions while in the Middle East before returning to Australia in January 1942.
In July 1942 the 2/27th embarked for Papua New Guinea and the Kokoda Track. The 2/27th arrived in August and proceeded along the track to Efogi where on the 7 September 1942 they were attacked by the Japanese. After the war James' nephew William Kent, was told by some of his mates that James had been shot in the head and died instantly. James was originally buried at Efogi Cemetery but his body was later exhumed and moved to the Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby.
James died on the Kokoda Track almost 19 years before I was born. My mother was only 6 years old and remembers him in his slouch hat and uniform coming home in January 1942 for leave before going to Papua New Guinea.
My grandmother Janet, didn't like anything Japanese and I never really understood why until I learnt about how Grand Uncle James had died. James was much loved and sadly missed by all his family. R.I.P. Grand Uncle James. Lest We Forget.
Submitted by Grand Niece, Sue Kemp.
Submitted 26 August 2017 by Sue Kemp
Biography contributed by Cornerstone College
James Rogerson was born on the 14th of April 1904, in Edinburgh, Scotland and later in life moved to Australia, where he lived in the suburb of Woodville, Charles Sturt, South Australia, and soon moved to Kilkenny, SA. He was a small man with a height of 5,6, he had brown hair, blue eyes, and a small black scar on the back of his left hand.
He enlisted in the armed forces on the 27th of May 1940. On the 7th of May 1940 the 2/27th Battalion left Woodside by train to Melbourne for further training and in October 1940 embarked on the H.M.T Maritime for Mauritania with a brief stop in India disembarking 24th November 1940. Rogerson was wounded in action (his service records notes that no date was given) and treated, transferring between hospitals during April and May 1941 before returning to his unit 30th May 1941. The 2nd 27th was in Palestine to prepare for its first offensive invasion of Syria and Lebanon which began of the 8th of June 1941. The 2/27th was employed in the drive north along the Lebanon coast but most of its operations were outflanking moves in the hills that edged the coastal plain. Its major actions were at Adloun on 11 June, Miyeoumiye on 13-14 June and around El Boum, as part of the battle of Damour, between 6 and 9 July. At Miyeoumiye he was injured again with shrapnel wounds on the 14th June 1941. After treatment he returned to his unit 15th August 1941.
The 2nd 27th was called back to Australia leaving Egypt on the 30 January 1942 arriving in Adelaide on the 24th of March. They didn’t stay long before they headed to Port Moresby Papua New Guinea. By the 6th of September they were in position at Mission Ridge at Port Moresby on the Kokoda trail preparing to meet Japanese. Rogerson was killed on 7th September 1942. He was initially buried in the Efogi Common Grave and then reinterned at the Mission Hill War Cemetery.
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