Alfred & Rosanna Rogers

Nottingham was bombed for the only time in the Great War early on Sunday, 24 September 1916.

Zeppelin L-17 dropped a clutch of bombs in a line from Eastcroft through the Meadows to Nottingham Midland Station along Carrington Street, Greyfriar Gate, Wheeler Gate and Lister Gate then Victoria Station where windows were shattered. Canaan Street Primitive Methodist Church was set on fire by an incendiary bomb and business premises, including Haddon's factory in Carrington Street and a warehouse at the corner of Lister Gate, were wrecked. Three people were killed and sixteen injured.

At 32 Newthorpe Street, Alfred and Rosanna Rogers were in bed when a stick of bombs fell on their house and surrounding buildings. Alfred Rogers was killed where he lay, his wife's body was found in the street, having been thrown several yards by the blast. Another eight people were dug out of the wreckage of three homes.

Alfred and Rosanna were buried in Nottingham General Cemetery on 28 September 1916.

Nottingham General Cemetery, headstone inscription: 'In loving memory of Alfred Taylor Rogers, aged 44 years, also Rosanna, wife of the above aged 42 years. Who were killed during air raid Sep. 24th 1916. Also James Smith died Sept. 29th 1892 aged 49 years. Also Mary Ann Smith, wife of the above who died April 19th 1928 in her 84th year. At Rest. And of (-) Smith who died May 23rd 1930, aged 64 years.'

Alfred and his wife had made individual Wills; probate of each was awarded to their eldest son, Albert, 'private in HM Army'.

Nottingham Evening Post, 27 September 1916. Report of the inquest:

An inquest jury ruled that the three victims 'had been murdered by person or persons unknown, through the explosion of bombs dropped from an airship.' Responding to allegations that L-17 had been attracted by lights or shunting sparks from London Road Station, the jury added a rider: ‘The town was exposed to the risk of attack by airships entirely by the action of the railway companies.’

‘Evidence was then called to prove that shunting operations were in progress on railway sidings with six arc lamps burning and throwing reflections upon an adjacent factory. All other lights had been out for some time, but these were kept burning until after a bomb had dropped, when they were extinguished. Shunting was continued for a time with hand lamps, and then it ceased.

'A sergeant-major said that the lights were all out except upon the railway. Here they were burning on the station, and in full glare when the first bombs were dropped. Trains were arriving and departing, but he noticed no light in them.

'Another witness, however, said that a mail train was visible from the fact that all its windows were not screened, and another witness declared that the first bomb dropped within seven or eight minutes of the arrival of the train, and that at this time the lights of the station and in the siding, were still burning.

'The Coroner said that he had given an intimation to the railway authorities of the inquest and of the likelihood that the question of lights would be raised but they were not represented. The point was whether the jury thought that some sort of representation ought to be made to the Home Office.’

Nottingham Evening Post, 27 September 1916, report of inquest: ‘Burned to death ... The third victim was a labourer, 21 years of age. He and his wife were asleep in the middle floor of a three-storeyed house when a bomb came like a ball of flames through the roof of the room above and fell on the deceased. The bed immediately took fire, and the wife ran for a bucket of water which she threw over the bed. A second bucket she also threw but the room was so full of smoke that she could not see the effect. The woman sought for assistance and cried for a quarter of an hour before anyone came, and then the deceased was taken on a barrow to the hospital, but he died on the way. The foreman of the jury expressed the view that the bereaved woman had shown great presence of mind. A neighbour said that she saw the deceased on a landing outside his bedroom. His head and shoulders were in flames.’

Postscript: John Beech writes, 'Police Constable Lory Robert Marsh of Campbell Grove, Robin Hood Street, who had been with the force eight or nine years, had been on duty on the night of the raid. He committed suicide three days later on 26th September 1916. The Nottingham Evening Post reported that, on the morning following the raid, a complaint, the first ever made against him, was brought before the Deputy Chief Constable. It was alleged that had been under the influence of liquor, but at his own request had been given an opportunity to obtain witnesses, and should have appeared before his superiors on the day he was found dead. He was described by a senior officer as ‘a healthy man, and a good officer’. P.C Marsh cut his own throat and then hanged himself at his home. His mother had recently died, and this, together with being on duty on the night of the raid, and the threat of a disciplinary hearing probably contributed to his death.'

Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 26 & 27 September 1916: ‘Rogers. On September 24th, at Newthorpe-street, suddenly, Alfred Taylor, fifth son of the late Clement and Elizabeth Rogers; also Rose, his wife, daughter of the late James and Mary Ann Smith, Waterway-street.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)

Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam', (date not confirmed)
'In loving memory of our dear mother and father Rose and Alfred killed in Newthorpe Street September 24th 1916. Sadly missed from their loving sons Albert, Jim (in France).'
'In loving memory of my dear daughter and son in law killed in Newthorpe Street September 24th 1916. Day of remembrance sad to recall. From their loving mother, brothers and sisters.'

Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 24 September 1918: ‘Rogers. In loving memory of our dear father and mother, who were killed September 24th 1916, late Newthorpe-street. Sadly missed. From their loving sons Albert and Jim.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)