Pte. James Wesley Rodgers 1063087 247th Bn CEF

 

Pte. James Wesely Rodgers

247^th Canadian Overseas Battalion/ 74^th Company, Canadian Forestry Corps

Regimental Number 1063087

 James Wesley Rodgers was born on October 5^th, 1894 26^th, 1895 in Dummer Township, Ontario. He was the son of John and Caroline Rodgers.   

 James was living in Clarina in the northern part of Dummer Township and working as a farmer when he enlisted with the 247^th Canadian Overseas Battalion on January 12^th, 1917 in Peterborough, Ontario.  He was 22 years old, stood 5 foot, 9 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds.  He sported a dark complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.  He listed no previous military experience and his religion as Methodist.

 James remained in Peterborough a short time with the 247^th as it attempted to recruit up to strength during the winter of 1917.  In early February, the battalion was transferred to the Canadian Barrifield training camp at Kingston for further training.  It was here that Rodgers underwent a further medical examination and was classified as Category B.2, and fit only for non-combatant service overseas because of defective vision.  By April, the battalion was still far below the 1000 men it needed, and it was amalgamated with the neighboring 235^th Durham & Northumberland Battalion to bring it up to a full compliment.

 Rodgers left with the 235^th for England aboard the SS Metagama on May 3rd 1917 and was assigned to Otterpoole camp, the Canadian forces base in West Sandling on May 14 1917.  As typical to newly arrived battalions at that time, the 235^th was broken up and its ranks taken on strength to the reserve battalions in France.  Rodgers, because of his defective vision was would take an alternate route to France: first being assigned to the 3^rd Canadian Reserve Battalion, then to the1^st Central Ontario Reserve Depot on August 20^th. Two days later he was posted to the 74^th Company, Canadian Forestry Corps at their base in Sunningdale, England.

Men of the Canadian Forestry Corps

 Most forestry companies were engaged in work such as clearing and processing timber used as the front. Rodgers’ soujourn in England ended two weeks later when the 74^th crossed the Channel to France on September 6 1917.  He served a year on this capacity before being granted leave to England on September 7^th.  About a week into his leave, Rodgers was admitted to the Canadian Military Hospital at Etchinghill and spent the remainder of the war there, being discharged on November 26^th to the Canadian Forestry base at Sunningdale. 

 James Rodgers embarked for Canada on January 12^th 1919 and was discharged in Kingston a month later on February 17^th.  He  returned to Dummer and married Annie Smith in October of 1919.  He died in 1967 and is buried in Norwood, Ontario.

 Sources

Canada. "Military Service File of James Wesley Rodgers." Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: Record Group 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8419-32. Item Number 604285.