Jonathan Rogers GC DSM (1920 - 1964)

Biography

CPO Jonathan 'Buck' Rogers

Jonathan 'Buck' Rogers GC DSM was born on 16th September 1920 in Froncysyllte, in the Vale of Llangollen, on the River Dee in Denbighshire, Wales, United Kingdom. He was the second son of Jonathan Rogers and Sarah Ellen Probyn. ^[1] Upon leaving Acrefair Central School at fourteen years of age, he obtained work at the nearby Ruabon brickyard.

Jonathan joined the Royal Navy on 22nd November 1938 and served in British waters, the North Sea, Atlantic and Mediterranean during the Second World War aboard Motor Anti-Submarine Boat No. 62 (1940-41), Motor Launch No. 204 (1942-43) and Motor Torpedo Boat No. 698 (1943-45). He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) in 1944 as a Petty Officer coxswain on the Motor Torpedo Boat 698, while it was operating in the Dover Strait. ^[2][3]

On 4th April 1942 in St Thomas' parish church, Pen-y-cae, Denbighshire, Jonathan married Lorraine Williams. ^[4] They made their home in the village and had four children.

He left the Royal Navy in January 1946, obtaining work above ground at a local colliery and building pre-fabricated houses.

The family subsequently migrated to Australia, whereupon Jonathan joined the Royal Australian Navy on 6th July 1950. He served aboard HMAS Sydney and the frigate HMAS Burdekin before being posted to the destroyer HMAS Tobruk and service in the Korean War. Jonathan was promoted to Chief Petty Officer in 1956 and subsequent postings included the ships HMAS Junee (1956-57), HMAS Anzac (1957-58), HMAS Warramunga (1959) and HMAS Barcoo (1959-61) before joining the crew of the destroyer HMAS Voyager in 1963. ^[2][3]

On land, he settled with his family at Ettalong Beach, at the point where Brisbane Water meets Broken Bay on New South Wales' Central Coast.

Aged 43 years, he died in the accidental but tragic collision of the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne and the Voyager on 10th February 1964. ^[5] As the ship went down, he could be heard by survivors in the water leading fellow crew members in singing a hymn. ^[6] He was posthumously awarded the George Cross (GC) on 19th March 1965 in recognition of 'his outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty in saving life at sea ... for maintaining the morale of junior ratings in great adversity, for organising the escape of as many as possible, and for supporting the spirits of those who could not escape and encouraging them to meet death alongside himself with dignity and honour. He upheld the highest traditions of service at sea and of his rating of Chief Petty Officer (Coxswain).' ^[7][8]

Jonathan is survived by his wife, son and three daughters.

Jonathan Rogers' Medal Set

Jonathan's decorations, alongside his campaign and service medals, are on display in the Australian War Memorial Hall of Valour:

• George Cross (GC)
• Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)
• 1939-1945 Star
• Atlantic Star with France and germany Clasp
• Italy Star
• War Medal 1939-1945
• Australian Active Service Medal 1945-1975
• Korea Medal with two Clasps
• United Nations Service Medal for Korea
• Naval General Service Medal 1915-62
• Australian Service Medal 1945-1975
• Australian General Service Medal for Korea
• Australian Defence Medal
• Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
• Pingat Jasa Malaysia

Sources

1. ↑ UK FreeBMD Birth Index Dec qtr 1920, vol 11b, page 590; registered at Corwen
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Australian War Memorial; accessed 31 Aug 2022
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Royal Australian Navy; accessed 31 Aug 2022
4. ↑ UK FreeBMD Marriage Index Jun qtr 1942, vol 11b, page 819; registered at Wrexham
5. ↑ Australian War Memorial: Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Rogers; accessed 31 Aug 2022
6. ↑ Harris, John and Payne, Kaley. Their Sacrifice, The Brave and Their Bibles: Death at Sea. Bible Society Australia, Sydney, 2015. ISBN 978-0-647-51929-5
7. ↑ Australian Honours: George Cross; accessed 31 Aug 2022
8. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: George Cross; accessed 31 Aug 2022

See also

• Bennet, Darryl. 'Rogers, Jonathan (1920–1964)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 2002; accessed online 31 Aug 2022.
• Wikipedia: Jonathan Rogers (GC); accessed 31 Aug 2022.