11219 Corporal W. H. Rogers, DCM.
2nd Battalion East Lancashire Regiment. Awarded
the D.C.M. in the London Gazette of 26 January 1918. Rogers was a native of
Burnley, Lancashire.
The Burnley Express of 6 October 1917 reported: -
D.C.M. FOR BURNLEY MAN.
Corporal W.H. Rogers, Lewis Gunner, East Lancashire Regiment, has had the honour of gaining the D.C.M. for his gallantry and devotion to duty on the 31st July 1917. He has previously been mentioned on several occasions for his gallant conduct. Corporal W.H. Rogers has been in France since the early days of the war, and was wounded on the 5 April 1916. Previous to the war he worked at Towneley Colliery as a drawer. His father has been in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry since September 1914. He has a cousin serving in France, and his father in law is in India. Corporal Rogers' wife and child reside at 30, Cairo Street, Burnley.
The Burnley Express of 2 February 1918 reported: -
SOLDIERS BRAVE DEEDS. SPLENDID FEARLESSNESS.
Burnley Man's D.C.M. Merited.
In further lists of deeds for which the Distinguished Conduct
Medal has been awarded, and which was officially published on Wednesday, appeared
the following: -
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty. When the battalion next to his was held up during an attack he and another
man went forward with great coolness and gallantry with their Lewis-Gun for
about sixty yards under heavy machine-gun fire, occupied a shell hole, and kept
down the fire of the enemy machine-guns, thus enabling a short advance to be
made. He held the position for 24 hours under heavy shellfire and machine-gun
fire, and prevented the enemy working round the flank. He set a splendid example
of initiative and fearlessness at a critical moment." The
rest of the report is a repeat of that of 6 October 1917.