Heywood Boer War Memorial

PRINCES HIGHWAY,HEYWOOD, Glenelg Shire

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Vic. War Heritage Inventory

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Statement of Significance

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  • Veterans Description for Public

    Heywood Boer War Memorial - Veterans Description for Public

    The Heywood Boer War Memorial, on the Princes Highway, is dedicated to Victoria Cross winner James Rogers of the South African Constabulary, Victorian Mounted Rifles. Rogers also served in the Light Horse Regiment in the First World War.

    Rogers was born at Moama, New South Wales, but in 1886 his family moved to Heywood. He worked on his father's farm and joined the local company of the Victorian Mounted Rifles in 1898. He was 6 ft 2 ins (188cm) tall, 12 stone (76kg) and a superb horseman, tough bushman and crack rifle-shot.

    When the South African war broke out, Rogers enlisted and in November 1899 disembarked at Cape Town as a private, 1st Victorian Mounted Infantry Company. On 1 May 1900, he was seconded as a corporal to the Provincial Mounted Police, Orange River Colony. Instead of returning home with the Victorian Contingent in November, he joined the South African Constabulary as a sergeant.

    In June 1901, Rogers was on patrol with its No. 6 Troop, commanded by Lieutenant Frank Dickinson. In a sharp action with the Boers, Dickinson's horse was shot. Rogers, despite heavy enemy fire, rode back, pulled him up behind him on his horse and carried him out of danger. Rogers returned twice more to rescue two men who had let go of their horses when they had dismounted to fire. He returned to Australia late in 1901 and was awarded the Victoria Cross on 18 April 1902.

    A month later, Rogers again left for South Africa as a lieutenant with the 6th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse. The war ended, however, and the battalion returned home. Rogers tried to obtain a commission in the Australian Military Forces but was unsuccessful. After buying and then selling a farm at Yea, Victoria, he returned to South Africa where he served as a special detective with the Cape Police until February 1904.

    At the outbreak of the FIrst World War, Rogers was an assistant ranger at the Williamstown rifle range. On 6 December 1914, he was commissioned in the 3rd Light Horse Brigade Train. He was seriously wounded at Gallipoli on 4 August 1915 and was evacuated to Egypt. He then served with the Anzac Provost Corps before returning to Australia on 18 July 1916.

    Rogers died in Concord Repatriation Hospital on 28 October 1961, and was cremated. His Victoria Cross is on display at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

    Heritage Study and Grading

    Heritage Study and Grading

    Glenelg - Glenelg Shire Heritage Study Part One

    Author: Carlotta Kellaway, David Rhodes Mandy Jean
    Year: 2002
    Grading:

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