The Soldier's Details

Rogers enlisted AIF 25 Oct 1940, he later joined 2/4th’s ‘C’ Coy No. 12 Platoon under Commanding officer Lt. Mick Wedge – also in this Platoon was Monty Smith.

Rogers had previously served with the 44th Battalion Militia.

 

Eric Reg (Buck) Rogers and his wife Elizabeth who joined AWAS.

‘Reg’  Rogers

Below:  Squire, Unknown & ‘Buck’ Rogers

Buck Rogers was one of four young men from the area of Muckinbudin to join 2/4th:

Joe Sevier (died 1945 Ranau-Sandakn track) joined Headquarters Coy under CO Captain McEwin as a Driver, played for Wilgoyne Soccer Club which was in the same competition as Muckinbudin where Buck Rogers and Dudley Squire (KIA 12 February 1942) with ‘C’ Coy 11 Platoon, played. The fourth man was WX9143 ‘Monty’ Smith (died 1943 Tanbaya Hospital Camp, Burma worked on Burma Thai Railway with ‘F’ Force Thailand) enlisted 30 Oct 1940 also joined ‘C’ Coy 12 Platoon.

Read story of Boys from Muckinbudin

Please read the story of the real ‘Buck’ Rogers

 

 

 

 

In the below soccer game, Rogers is Capt and also playing is Squire.

 

Rogers left Singapore sailing with the fist POW Work Party to southwest Burma with ‘A’ Force Burma, No. 3 Battalion.  Please read about the movements of this Force 

Towards the end of 1943 when the rail was completed, the Japanese began to transport all the POWs who were working in Burma – south to Thailand to one of a few large camps.  We know Rogers was sent to Tamarkan (Hospital) Camp 1944 and then to Nacompaton Camp from 1944 to 30 Aug 1945 where he was recovered at the end of the war.

Buck was also sick at Ye POW Camp, and Thanby hospital Burma 6 March 1943.

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WX9005 Eric Reginald ‘Buck’ Rogers arrived Fremantle Nov 1923 on ‘Borda’ from London. He had just turned 19 and gave his occupation as agricultural labourer.   His address was recorded as ‘The Primp Room, Winkfield, Windsor’.

 

 

1931 Electoral Roll has Eric Rogers at Mukinbudin, farming.

In 1936 Electoral Roll is same, with his wife Elizabeth Kathleen Mary (nee Rann) whom he married 20 Apr 1935 Claremont.   Elizabeth was born 1913 Kent to James and Emily Mary Rose Rann.   Not long after the family sailed from Liverpool, England on ‘Belgic’ to Fremantle.

Elizabeth Rann’s father served Royal Army Medical Corps Reg. No. 18686 joining 1903 aged 24 years and served France until about 1913 when Rann family sailed to WA. Elizabeth was their only child, the family resided in Fremantle until about 1922 when they moved to Claremont. James Rann died Karrakatta in 1945 aged 66.

Buck enlisted Oct 1940, later joining 2/4^th’s ‘C’ Coy.   His wife Elizabeth Rann joined AWAS.

On his return home from Thailand, Buck and Elizabeth returned to their farm at Mukinbudin where they continued farming for several decades before Buck sold the farm to his only son Jim and retired.

Eric and Bet had three children Hazel, Jim and Betty.

Elizabeth’s mother Emily Mary Rose Rann d. Northampton Jan 1976.

Eric died at Northampton 20 Jan 1972 aged 67 years. As with most returning POWs, Buck had his physical and mental health issues – it was challenging returning to civilian life.  Their Muckinbudin farm was remote from the town and facilities.    Elizabeth ‘Bet’ Kathleen Mary Rogers died Geraldton 21 June 1991. Both Eric and Bet were buried at Northampton Cemetery.

‘Buck’ Rogers died in 1972.