Aaron Rogers was born on 30 April 1880 in (Templebrady) Crosshaven, County Cork in Ireland, the fifth of eight children. His father, Plymouth born Aaron Rogers Snr, was in the Royal Navy and was based in Ireland. In January 1896 Aaron, a servant boy, followed his widowed father and joined the Royal Navy as a Seaman, enlisting at Devonport and joining HMS Vivid.
The 1911 census states that both were living at 2 Stoke Terrace in Kelly Bray, Aaron a Seaman and his father a Naval pensioner. During WW1 Aaron was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his part in the battle at Gallipoli and is mentioned in the London Gazette of 15 May 1916. His service certificate states that he was invalided out of the Royal Navy in 1920 and the reason given was ‘Disease of the brain’. Aaron died 10 Feb 1921 aged 40 at Northcote, Honiton and is buried in South Hill at St. Sampsons.
John Henry Dennis was born in Flushing on 20 Jun 1876 and joined the Royal Navy in April 1896 as a Stoker. He married Mary Selina Rogers, Aaron Roger’s sister, on 21 April 1903 in Kinsale in Ireland. By 1908 they were living in Valentine Row Callington with their baby daughter, Lavinia. In November 1915 John Henry Dennis joined HMS Wallington, a ship patrolling the icy waters around the east coast. His service certificate states:
DD* 8th February 1916 (Accidentally drowned, but no evidence to show how deceased got into the water). Verdict of Inquest “Found drowned” *Discharged Dead
ROGERS, AARON https://astreetnearyou.org/person/347081/Petty-Officer-Aaron-Rogers
SOUTH HILL (ST. SAMPSON) CHURCHYARD
HMS Vivid > Royal Navy, HMS Vivid – First World War Casualties – A Street Near You
NOTES: the wider Rogers family have PROBABLY lived in the parish since at least the 1700s. Aaron’s grandfather Josiah, married Mary Congdon from St Ive and they had several children before they moved to Plymouth where Aaron Snr was born. Aaron Snr joined the Royal Navy, married Selena Petherick who was born in Golberdon and had family in the parish in 1870 at Stoke Dameral, and moved to Ireland where his family, including Aaron, were born. They family became widespread, quite a few died young but most are commemorated on various gravestones.
