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Pte. Samuel Loudon Rodgers
British Army 5th Btn Cameron Highlanders
from:Muir Street, Larkhall, Scotland
(d.3rd May 1917)
During 2016 a group of army cadets visited the WW1 battlefields - prior to going they were tasked to nominated a soldier killed during the conflict this soldier could be a relative, someone who came from the same town, or possibly the same surname as themselves but whoever they selected would be Their Soldier with the view they would visit their soldiers grave or memorial and lay a remembrance cross and say hello, one of the cadets Mel Rodgers told us of a relative killed during the conflict, Pte SL Rodgers 5th Cameron Highlanders aged 22 killed in May 1917
In Scotland 51 Brigade (Army) hold a competition annually called the Alban Sodger allowing cadets to do a presentation the Great War. Mel and a fellow cadet Connor Mullen used her relative as their named soldier as part of the competition they won the initial selection for the Glasgow and Lanarkshire Battalion which put them forward to the main competition, which was held in Edinburgh Castle. Their presentation won them first place on the brigade competition.
A point was made that we would visit Pte Rodgers grave whilst we were on the tour, the grave was at Duisans Military Cemetery, Etrun near Arras, after being diverted due to road works we arrived at the location. We had compiled a folder on her soldier including copies of the 5th Bn Cameron Highlanders War Diary covering the events leading up to the attack when Samuel was killed. On arrival we debussed and visited the grave, it was quite emotional but our aim had been achieved. Mel positioned her cross and large poppy on Samuels grave and this was the chance for Mel to eventually say hello to Samuel on behalf of her family, this was a lovely closure from finding out about Samuel, using him for her presentation, winning the Alban Sodger competition to finally visit his grave.
Medals Awarded to Pte Samuel Rodgers for service in World War One were Victory Medal and British War Medal
Submitted by SMI R Bell, Glasgow Lanarkshire Army Cadet Force on behalf of the Rodgers family
