Sergeant Fred Charles William Rogers
On 17th November, 1936, No.46 squadron lost Sgt. Fred Charles William Rogers, when he crashed his Gloster Gauntlet II, (K7795), into a hill at Pepperscombe Farm, Steyning, in Sussex.
He had been en route to Tangmere, trying to beneath the cloud in deteriorating weather conditions.
Mr. Glynn, a commercial traveller, described what happened:
As I was driving through the main street, I heard the roar of the engine and then the crash but could see nothing because of the mist.
On 18th November ‘The Belfast News Letter’ reported:
People in the district began a search after seeing the ‘plane vanish into the isolated country at the foot of the Downs. They found it wrecked, with the pilot inextricably trapped in the debris.
It seems to have been 7 hours before Sgt. Rogers’ body was recovered from the wreckage, but it is unclear whether this was due to the difficulty of finding the crash site in the mist or because he was trapped in the wreckage.
Fred Charles William Rogers was born 28th January, 1908, in Lymington, Hampshire. He was the eldest son of Frederick Henry Rogers, a law clerk from Boldre, who was well known in the area as a committee member for Lymington Conservative Club and Lymington Cottage Hospital. His Mother was Ellen Rogers (nee Crouch). Fred had two sisters Jessica and Laura. In addition, a newspaper report mentions two brothers, the youngest of whom, Douglas Arthur, had joined the RAF as an apprentice. He had been stationed in Jerusalem for 18 months at the time of Fred’s death.
Fred was educated in Brockenhurst before joining the RAF on 2nd September, 1924, as a 16 year old Aircraft apprentice and training at the Electrical and Wireless School. In August 1927, he re-mustered as a Wireless Operator Mechanic and joined No.13 (Army Co-operation) Squadron, probably at Andover. At this time the squadron were equipped with the Armstrong Whitworth Atlas.
In 1929, Fred was posted to India, where he served for two years, followed by postings to Egypt and Transjordania. At the time of his death, he had been a pilot for four years, so his flying training must have commenced around 1932. He suffered several crashes but no serious injuries.
In 1935, Fred married Phyllis Gwendoline Fry in Portsmouth and was almost immediately posted to Sudan, where he spent the next 7 months. The couple had a baby boy called Terry who was only a few months old at the time of his Father’s death. Phyllis re-married in 1940, to Warrant Officer Cecil John Lee – although he also served in the RAF, his duties were ground-based.
Sgt. Rogers was 28 years old when he died and was laid to rest in Milton Cemetery, Portsmouth on Friday, 20th November, 1936. His coffin was conveyed to the cemetery by road on a gun carriage draped in the Union Flag. At the cemetery gates, the cortege was met by an escort provided by a local RAF station and Fred’s coffin was borne to his final resting place by six of his brother airmen pilots. The funeral was attended by the Commanding Officer of No.46 (F) Squadron, Fred’s Flight Commander and many other Officers and NCOs from RAF Kenley. The Chief Officer of Customs, Portsmouth, (under whom Fred’s widow’s Father served), also attended. More than 50 floral tributes adorned Fred’s grave – sent by his family and friends, the Officers and airmen he served alongside, as well as Fighter Command and The British Legion. The funeral was conducted by Reverend Stanley Cumpsty, Chaplain of the Cathedral Church of Portsmouth, who had officiated at Sgt. Rogers wedding, some 18 months previously.
Although Sgt. Rogers had a grave marker for the first few years after his death, it seems to have disappeared sometime during WWII and, sadly, his grave is now unmarked.
Rest in peace Sir and thank you for your service.
No Comments
Add a comment about this page