WAR MEMORIALS IN THE PARISH OF NORTHOP
The villages of Northop, Northop Hall and Sychdyn (Soughton)
The villages of Northop, Northop Hall and Sychdyn (Soughton)
Private 1811751 Arthur Rogers of the Air Borne 2nd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment
We are pleased to be able to bring to the website, the story of this Sychdyn WW2 soldier who survived the war but who was captured at Arnhem and was a prisoner of war for 8 months - until the day he escaped.
Brief Biography.
Arthur Rogers was born in 1919 and he lived with his family at 2 Maes Gruffydd, Sychdyn. His parents were George Albert and Sarah Barbara Rogers and he had two younger brothers, Albert and David. When he left school, Arthur became a steelworker. He was a keen member of the village football team - see photographs below. Arthur enlisted in 1941 when he was 22 years old and he joined the Airborne 2nd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment.
Arthur Rogers was born in 1919 and he lived with his family at 2 Maes Gruffydd, Sychdyn. His parents were George Albert and Sarah Barbara Rogers and he had two younger brothers, Albert and David. When he left school, Arthur became a steelworker. He was a keen member of the village football team - see photographs below. Arthur enlisted in 1941 when he was 22 years old and he joined the Airborne 2nd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment.
The Battle of Arnhem
This was the largest airborne operation of World War 2 which took place in September 1944. It was given the code name 'Operation Market Garden' and the plan was to land 35,000 paratroopers behind enemy lines, close to the town of Arnhem in Holland and capture eight strategically important bridges that crossed canals and rivers along the Dutch-German border. The theory was that the way would then be paved for allied troops to march into Germany. It all went wrong, however and 1,500 allied men were killed and 6, 500 were taken prisoner.
Arthur travelled with comrades to Arnhem in a flimsy glider which was towed by a Dakota. The glider landed and the troops disembarked. We don't know exactly what happened to him but Arthur went missing.
This was the largest airborne operation of World War 2 which took place in September 1944. It was given the code name 'Operation Market Garden' and the plan was to land 35,000 paratroopers behind enemy lines, close to the town of Arnhem in Holland and capture eight strategically important bridges that crossed canals and rivers along the Dutch-German border. The theory was that the way would then be paved for allied troops to march into Germany. It all went wrong, however and 1,500 allied men were killed and 6, 500 were taken prisoner.
Arthur travelled with comrades to Arnhem in a flimsy glider which was towed by a Dakota. The glider landed and the troops disembarked. We don't know exactly what happened to him but Arthur went missing.
Arthur Rogers is standing on the far left. Use your cursor to find out who's who in this photograph of a very successful Sychdyn football team in the Halkyn League circa 1946.
Arthur is standing on the second row, to the left of his brother David (the goalkeeper wearing the dark, high necked sweater). Use the cursor to see who's who.
Three brothers. From the left Albert, David and Arthur Rogers
This scribbled message written on the back of a torn scrap from a notice about foot and mouth regulations was sent to Arthur's family after the Battle of Arnhem. It says-
I have to report that your son Pte Rogers is missing in action. This is not an official notification it is merely a Regimental notification a letter follows in 4 or 5 days
CO
2nd Batt South Staffs
A devastating piece of news.
I have to report that your son Pte Rogers is missing in action. This is not an official notification it is merely a Regimental notification a letter follows in 4 or 5 days
CO
2nd Batt South Staffs
A devastating piece of news.
Then came the official notification that he was missing. It suggests that he could be a POW which provided a glimmer of hope that he was alive.
Then came the confirmation in this postcard that the family had hoped and prayed for. Arthur was alive and well but was a prisoner of war
Another postcard from Arthur wishing his brother Albert happy birthday and asking his family to do their best to send him a parcel.
Here we have details of a parcel that the family sent through the Red Cross. On the right is a list of all the good things that were in it. The trouble was, poor old Arthur never received it. We wonder which swine had it and ate his chocolates.
This was the only thing that Arthur ever received from home. This letter from his little brother David, with news from home must have been very, very welcome.
One day, Arthur was in a group of 7 marching somewhere in Czechoslovakia when they escaped. Three civilians helped the group by giving them directions to an American base and they gave then a compass to help them find their way. In this photograph is the very compass which is now the treasured possession of Arthur's brother David.
When Arthur was safely back in British hands he was interrogated by the authorities about his experiences as a prisoner. This 'Top Secret' document is the record of that interrogation. The 'escape' story is documented here.
Many grateful thanks to David Rogers, (Arthur's younger brother) and Pauline (his daughter), for sharing with us Arthur's story and all the memorabilia on this page.
Regular broadcasts from Germany on the wireless, included the reading out of names and regimental numbers of captured allied troops who were Prisoners of War. In Sychdyn, Arthur's brother David was alone, listening to the list of names being read. He could hardly believe it when he heard his brother's name and number. With great excitement and joy he was able to break the news to the rest of the family that Arthur was alive.
Arthur Rogers is pictured second from the left.
After the war, Arthur picked up the threads of his life again. He married Dora Amos and they raised two children - Tony and Pauline. Arthur also resumed his football career as we see below.
The Flintshire Leader 26th June 1978
Post Script
David Rogers also provided us with other photographs from his family archives that he thought some Sychdyn residents would find interesting. We reproduce them below.
David Rogers also provided us with other photographs from his family archives that he thought some Sychdyn residents would find interesting. We reproduce them below.
Many thanks to Roger Bellis who contacted us about this photograph. He was able to fill in some of the names for us but he also believes that this is possibly the presentation of the Halkyn Mountain League Trophy to the champions of the 1947/48 season, Soughton Villa. The presententation was made by MP Nigel Birch.