encyclopedia titanica

Mr Reginald Harry Rogers : 2nd Class Passengers

Summary
Born: Monday 17th July 1893
Age: 18 years
Last Residence: in Tavistock Devon England
2nd Class passenger
First Embarked: Southampton on Wednesday 10th April 1912
Ticket No. 28004 , £10 10s
Destination: Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania United States
Died in the sinking.
Body Not Recovered

Other Information
1901 Census - Tavistock, Devon

Mr Reginald Harry Rogers

Daily Graphic, 20 April 1912
(Jason O’Neill / Cameron Bell, Northern Ireland)

Mr Reginald Harry Rogers, 19, was born at 29 West Street, Tavistock on 17 July 1893. He was baptised at the Tavistock Parish Church on 10 March 1894 as Reginald Harry Rogers but always known as Harry. He was the youngest son of John Giles Rogers, a monumental mason and granite merchant and Emma Jane Rogers (née Westlake). Harry was the eldest brother of Francis John, Edna Emma, Hilda Emma and Charlie. The family later lived at Ralph's Court, Higher Back Street and Taylor Square, all in Tavistock. Harry's grandfather, John Stephen Rogers, had come to Tavistock from Calstock in Cornwall and set up business in the town in about 1877 as a monumental mason, his business premises being located at 14/15 Ford Street. Harry's father working with him in due course. The business was described in trade directories as 'Monumental and Marble Mason, supplies all kinds of polished granite monuments, tombs, headstones, crosses and grave curbings, floral vases etc. The Tavistock marble and monumental works, 14 Ford Street.' (The business was to continue under Rogers ownership until 1972). Harry's father died in 1903 and by this time Harry had worked in service for Rev Maitland Kelly and been employed at the Bedford Hotel in Tavistock. In about 1906 he moved to Cornwall and worked as an assistant waiter at the Angel Hotel, Coinage Street, Helston.

Harry was encouraged to emigrate to the USA by his uncle, Frederick Adams who was at the time living at 49 Oxford Street, Lee Park, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. (Frederick had married Harry's aunt, Mary Jane Rogers in Tavistock in 1895).

Harry embarked Titanic at Southampton travelling second class under ticket number 28004 which had cost £10 10s.

He was lost in the sinking. The following appeared in the Western Morning News newspaper on 18 April 1912:

'Harry Rogers of Tavistock, a second class passenger, was the son of the late J G Rogers, stone mason, and grandson of Mr John Stephen Rogers who carried on business at Tavistock. The young man was 18 years of age and had been in the service of Rev Maitland Kelly of Kelly. Afterwards he was employed at the Bedford Hotel, Tavistock, and for about three years had been assistant waiter at the Angel Hotel, Helston. He was sailing for Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, where he had several uncles and aunts, and intended to turn his hand to anything that came along. He was a smart and steady young fellow. He had intended to travel by another liner, but the sailing was cancelled on account of the coal strike. His mother has been married again and is the wife of Mr Fred Jackman, who for many years has been in the employ of Tavistock Urban District Council. Both mother and grandmother are in much distress, fearing the worst.'

There is a memorial to Harry on the family grave at Tavistock Cemetery. He is remembered on his fathers headstone, John Giles Rogers who died on 24 October 1903 aged 31. The family grave also has memorials to his garndparents and his uncles, Charles, William Henry and Thomas.

 
Courtesy: Steve Coombes, UK

Contributors
Steve Coombes, UK
Chris Dohany, USA
A. E. Mettler , UK
Brian Ticehurst, UK