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Robert Wilton Rogers - Information

Robert was born in Burwood c1897 to Helen Isabel and Edward Rogers. The Rogers then moved to a property called Minchin in Campbelltown. Robert like many of his siblings did very well at school, and was continuing his studies when the war commenced. The lives of the Rogers were to change in 1915, when Robert's older brother, Francis, joined the AIF and was sent off to war. Robert soon followed, joining up shortly after he turned 18. He enlisted at the Royal Showground Camp in Sydney, on the 25th of July 1916. Robert was assigned to the 33rd Battalion at Liverpool Camp. He was then allocated to the 2nd Battalion in Cootamundra, before going to the Depot Signal Training Company at Kiama in August. Eventually, Robert was finally posted as a Private to the 7th Reinforcements, 34th Battalion. He then departed Sydney onboard the HMAT Anchises on the 24th of January 1917.

Robert arrived in Devonport in late March. The following month, he was marching out to Fovant Camp when he fell ill. He was then admitted to Fargo Military Hospital with bronchitis. On the 25th of June, he was transported from Southampton to the Western Front, and in July, was taken on strength to the 34th Battalion. However, he was shortly evacuated back to England sick. After recovering, Robert was switched to a warmer climate, arriving in Egypt to reinforce the 6th Light Horse Regiment in March 1918. This was the same unit as his older brother, Francis, whom sadly at this time was in hospital wounded from a gas attack. After completing exercises with 2nd Light Horse Training Regiment at Moascar in May, he joined the 6th Light Horse and reunited with his brother. At the beginning of August, Robert was appointed Temporary Sergeant and became an education instructor, a service he continued into 1919. In June, Robert embarked Kantara for home onboard the Madras. By the late 1930s, Robert had relocated to Coogee.