Robert Rueben Rodgers

Robert Rueben Rodgers

Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known 1874
Place of Birth	Dalry, Ayreshire, Scotland
Death	7 Jul 1921, aged 54
Place of Death	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	43 years, 2 months
Description	5'8" (1.m) tall ; 158 lbs 71.668 kg ; ruddy complexion ; blue eyes ; turning grey hair
Occupation	Distiller
Religion	Presbyterian
Address	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Lizzie Agnes Rodgers
Military Information
Reg Number	7819
Date of Enlistment	1 Apr 1917
Rank	Sergeant
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion, 26th Reinforcement / 3rd Brigade, 1st Division
Date of Embarkation	29 Jun 1917 ‒ 25 Aug 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A30 Borda
Date of Return	28 Mar 1919 ‒ 8 May 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Karoa
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Previous service with 2nd Victorian Regiment for 7 years, 5months - Company Sergeant Major, and Victorian Rangers for 2 years 9 months including 1 year 6 monhs as instructional staff.

Electoral Roll entries - 1910 - 1916 Jarrahdale, orchardist, with Lizzie Agnes. Elizabeth died 18 Nov 1957 in Mt Lawley aged 85.

War Service

Prior to enlisting with the AIF, Robert was an Acting Staff Sergeant on Instructional Staff. He therefore entered Blackboy Hill camp as a permanent Sergeant, and on 8 May 1917 was allocated to the 26th reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion.

On arrival in England was posted to the 3rd training Battalion at Durrington, and on 18 Oct 1917 proceeded overseas to France through Southampton. On 26 Oct 1917 he was taken on strength by the 11th Battalion, which was at that time in bivouvac at Ypres, engaged in specialist training and working parties, preparing to move back into forward positions.

Seen by Field Ambulance staff while in Belgium on 20 Mar 1918, he was sent to the 11th Casualty Clearing Station on 28 Mar 1918 before being admitted to the 83rd General Hospital in Boulogne on 3 Apr 1918 with trench fever. He was evacuated to England on HMHS Cambria on 21 Apr 1918 where he entered Graylingwell War Hospital Chichester on 22 Apr 1918, before being released to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 29 Apr 1918. Recovered and returned to duty on 9 May 1918, he was transferred 31 May 1918 to the cadre staff at No.2 Command Depot, and placed on the Supernummary List.

Return to Australia was on basis of debility following Trench Fever leaving him unfit for further service. On arrival in Fremantle Robert spent 2 days, 8 - 10 May 1918 in 8th Australian General Hospital before being released for discharge on 9 Jun 1919.

Post War

Died from an accident at Jarrahdale on 7 Jul 1921.

FATALITY AT TIMBER MILL. WORKMAN'S 40-FOOT FALL. A TRAGIC ACCIDENT. Perth. Julv 7.

News of a shocking accident in which a man named Robert Rodgers was fatally injured are reported from Jarrahdale. Rodgers was engaged yesterday in working on a pile-driver at the new mill, which is being erected. He was up at the top of the pile-driver, about 40 feet from the ground, fixing a monkey in position. The eve of the bolt attached to the pile-driver broke, causing the monkey, which weighed about two tons, to fall to the ground. The rope connected to it became taut with strain and broke the staging away on which Rodgers was standing, letting him fall to the ground, about 40 feet, where he received injuries to his head by coming into contact with some timber. He died this morning without regaining consciousness.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial