Missing years

[Midgie]

I am trying to find more information on my great-great-uncle William A Rodger who was born in Yorkshire in 1844. He is said to have gone to South Africa with his brother Charles Rodger(s) and sister-in-law Mary Elizabeth possibly in 1909, then William A went to Australia. I have found his service record, he enlisted in the AIF in 1916, was living at 3 Gordon Street, Paddington, Sydney when he enlisted. He was in France and was later discharged from the AIF in 1919 as medically unfit. He died in hospital at Randwick in 1928. (I have no further information on either his brother or sister-in-law).

I would like to find out whatever I can about William A. Is it possible to find out when he would have arrived in Australia? Also does anyone know where he is likely to have been buried?

Apologies if this is a bit rambling - it's my first post!

[trish251]

Hi Midgie

Welcome to roots chat - wishing you much success in your searching.

I would have one query re your post - was he born in 1844? Would have been rather old to enlist  .  Have you bought a transcript of his death certificate?
http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/familyHistory/howToSearch.htm#TranscriptionAgent
Could contain the answers to most of your questions, as if the informant knew they contain a wealth of information. mmm - looking at his index record, the parents seem to be missing, so there may not be alot of known information. It should contain details on his burial - and if he told anyone at the hospital may say how long he had been in Australia.

Trish

[mrmagoo460]

Hi Midgie,

W. A. Rodger
Date of death: 29/7/1928
Cemetery: Rookwood
Section: 10  Row: 9  Grave: 1486
Denomination: Anglican
Inscription: Pvte. 5623, 19th Batt. A.I.F.  (Military Plaque)

All the best,

Magoo

[PrueM]

Hi Midgie,
William A does seem to be much older than most enlisted men in WW1...what information does his personnel record have about his next of kin, birthdate and place etc?  Does it tie in with what you know?
Prue

[PrueM]

Hi again,

I have had a look at the service record of William Arthur RODGER on the NAA website.  It states he was 32 years old in 1916 - therefore born around 1884.  That's 40 years too late for your man   

This one gives his NOK as his mother, Mrs Rhoda RODGER, living in Leeds; and his birthplace as Ackworth, Yorkshire.
 
Prue

[tropicalj]

hello there just had a quick look at his service records and it is now digilitised
but your age you have for him is way out
was he born in yorkshire
you can iew his record again

nut he was born in 1883 approx
regards jenn

[tropicalj]

hello there

see i have crossed posts with Prue

ah well they say great minds and all that

regrds  jenn

[PrueM]

Yes, great minds...

[Daisypetal]

Hi,

I looked up the death in 1928 on the website given by Trish, if I've found the right one this is what it says,

Registration Number:   12638/1928
Last Name;  RODGER
Given Name(s); WILLIAM A
Father's Given Name(s);  44 YRS P O W HOSP
Mother's Given Name(s):
District: RANDWICK   

Maybe 1844 was just a typing error?

If so, I have found the following census which could be him (he has a brother Charles) and fits with the Rhoda info given by Prue.
           
1891 RG12/3702 f.111 p.10 Leeds

52 Craven Road

Tom RODGERS    Head  42  Stone Mason               Yorkshire Leeds
Rhoda               Wife   50                                      "  "    Harewood
Annie                Daur  19  Tailoress                         "  "      Leeds
Emily                 Daur  17       "  "                           "  "      Ackworth
Walter W            Son  15  Stonemasons Apprentice    "  "    "  "
Charles              Son   13  Errand Boy                      "  "     "  "
Mary Ann           Daur  12  Scholar                            "  "     "  "
William A            Son    7    "  "                                "  "     "  "

I looked at this one earlier this evening but not knowing parents names etc. and it being RODGERS not RODGER I wasn't sure it was right, but now I think it's a good possibility, does anyone agree?

Regards
Daisy