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ROGERS, Peter

Private 2328811

1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment

who died on

Wednesday, 6th October 1943. Aged 23

Peter was the son of Frederick William and Kate Rogers.  They lived at number2 Seaview Cottages in Langenhoe behind the Langenhoe Lion. His father had been the local thatcher. Peter attended Langenhoe and West Mersea Schools. After leaving school he worked as a gardener for Major Richardson. 

Peter at Langenhoe School                    and in the Army

In April 1939 he joined up. His three brothers also were in the Services, while one sister Pansy was in the ATS having joined the Territorials pre-war. His other sister, Nan, joined up as  a WAAF. His brother, Arthur was a QMS in the Essex Regiment and was evacuated from Dunkirk. His brother David was a CPO on minesweepers, while the third brother, Philip, served in the Home Guard.

Nan, who handled Barrage Balloons in the WAAF        Pansy, an Army cook with the ATS.

Arthur in The Essex Regiment                                    David a CPO involved in minesweeping

Peter originally joined the Royal Signals when he joined up in April 1939. However, he transferred on the 30th August 1939 to the 1st Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment. The 1st Battalion, The East Surrey Regiment were stationed in Colchester and sailed from Southampton on the 2nd October 1939 for Cherbourg as part of 11 Brigade in the 4th Division.

They moved across northern France to the Belgian frontier preparing defences and for a short time undertook garrison duties in the Maginot line.

On the 10th May 1940 the Germans launched their blitzkrieg and the Surreys moved up into Belgium. They took part in the battle of "Escault" and the retreat to, and ultimately from Dunkirk. During this period Peter had a number of transfers within the East Surreys. Posted to the 1/6th Battalion on the 20th January 1940, he was reassigned to the 132 Infantry Brigade Anti-tank Company on the 27th January 1940 and to the 10th Infantry Brigade Anti-tank Company on the 4th May 1940.

The 1st Battalion the East Surreys were involved in rearguard action. They fell back onto Dunkirk throughout the nights of the 1st and 2nd June. The Royal Navy planned the final uplift of troops during the night of 2nd June from the harbour using the faster ships. In practice they were able to lift men on the 3rd as well, though these were mainly French.

Peter was wounded in the shoulder at Dunkirk. After he had recovered, he rejoined his regiment spending the rest of 1940 and 1941 as part of the defence forces in Southern England. He was posted to the Infantry Training Centre on the 26th July 1940. He was posted back to the 1st Battalion East Surreys on the 22nd August 1940.

At the end of May 1941, 11 Brigade was transferred to 78 Division, who were situated around Dunblane in Scotland and  went on an Assault Course training.

On the 26th October, the Division sailed from the Clyde as part of a convoy of 49 ships. The spearhead of Operation Torch, the invasion of French North West Africa from Morocco to Tunisia. The Battalion landed unopposed near Algiers on the night of 7th November 1942.

From then until March 1943, they consolidated their position around the town of Medjez. In early April, the Battalion took part in the intense "Battles of the Peaks" north of Medjez, including the Battle of "Longstop Hill".  On the 8th May the 1st Surreys entered Tunis at the end of the campaign. They were part of the triumphant 1st Army in the Victory Parade before Generals Alexander and Eisenhower.

They spent two and a half months in North Africa following the campaign preparing to take part in the follow up operations to the landings in Sicily, Operation Huskey.

The 1st Surreys, still as part of the 11th Brigade in 78 Division landed on the beaches south of Syracuse on the 25th July 1943, some two weeks after the initial invasion. The campaign continued until mid August when German resistance ceased.

While the Surrey's Division rested on the north coast of Sicily, the Eighth  Army crossed the Messina Straits into Italy. The 1st Surreys, as part of the 1st Army, crossed as part of 11 Brigade into Italy on the 22nd September 1943. They landed at Taranto from where they went north by train to Bari on the east coast. From Bari they advanced further north on the 29th September with the object of capturing Termoli.

The Battalion were not directly involved in the Battle of Termoli but were engaged in securing the left flank of 78 Division at Larino, some 15 miles south of where they fought an important action.

On 2nd October 1943, they made their way some 13 miles away to Larino. This was in appalling weather, through heavy mud and with bridges demolished. On the 3rd October A & B Companies were sent off about three miles to the West to attack and secure a ridge overlooking Larino.

This attack was only partially successful and they were pinned down by heavy German machinegun and mortar fire for four days. They suffered a total of 71 casualties. Their ordeal ended on the 7th October with the capture of Termoli by 78 Division.  

 It is probable that it was in this action that he was killed on 6th October 1943 and buried near where he fell. His family were notified a year later that he had been reburied at Sangro. His grave is in the Sangro River War Cemetery, Italy reference Grave11. B.33

The site of Sangro River War Cemetery was selected by 5th Corps. Into it were concentrated the graves of men, who lost their lives in the fierce fighting on the Adriatic sector of the front in late 1943. The cemetery also has many Muslims buried there as the 8th and 4th Indian Divisions played a significant part in the fighting. Likewise, the New Zealanders suffered heavily in this theatre and many of their graves are here. Many POWs , who escaped but died trying to reach British lines are also included.

The cemetery lies in the Commune of Torino di Sangro, Province of Chieti. 

Take the road SS16 between Pescara and Vasto from the autostrada A14 exit at Val di Sangro. 

 At about 2.5 km from this exit turn right on to the SS16 for nearly 2 km. There is then a sharp turn up to the cemetery, which is permanently open to visitors.

Peter was entitled to the Defence  Medal and the 1939-45 War Medal, the 1939-45 Star, and the Africa Star with clasp for the 1st Army, together with the Italian Campaign Star.

Peter was also entitled to the Dunkirk Medal issued by the town of Dunkirk to all those, who fought in and around Dunkirk in 1940 and were evacuated or took part in the evacuation.

 

REFERENCES

Information obtained from The Commonwealth War Graves web site. www.cwgc.org/

Obituary Essex County Standard November 12th 1943 page 5

The information on the East Surrey Regiment was kindly provided by the Regimental Museum of The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment

The pictures of the medals were kindly provided by Worcestershire Medal Service Ltd.

10/20/01 last updated

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These pages are dedicated to the memory of the Fallen from the two World Wars, who lived in Abberton & Langenhoe.. Prepared by Saint Andrew's Parochial Church Council. November 11th 2000

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