Roger Vernon

Memorial: Rangeworthy - Holy Trinity Church

Regiment: Somerset Light Infantry

Medals: 1914–15 Star, British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal

Rank and number: Second Lieutenant

Parents: Rev. Frederick Wentworth and Edith Serena Vernon (nee Hill Boothby)

Home address: Clyde Road, Clevedon, Somerset

Date of birth: 27/10/1893

Place of birth: Falmouth, Cornwall

Date of death: 14/05/1916

Buried/Commemorated at: Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery (Ref: XXX. A. 38.), Souchez, France

Age: 23

Further information:

Roger Vernon was born in Falmouth in Cornwall on 27th October 1893. He was the son of the Vicar of Rangeworthy, Rev. Frederick Wentworth and Edith Serena Vernon (nee Hill Boothby). His siblings were Millicent Eleanor, Evelyn and Peter

Roger went to Malaya in 1913 as a rubber planter. He returned to England in 1915 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of the 8th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry. He went to France in September 1915 and died on 14th May 1916. He died a hero as he was killed while trying to rescue a fellow officer who he thought was caught up in the wire in front of the German trenches.
He was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Although marked out for the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his actions on a number of occasions his Commanding Officer died and so this prevented the recommendation going forward

Roger is buried at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery (Ref: XXX.A.38.) in Souchez in Pas de Calais in France. He is commemorated on the memorial in Rangeworthy Church and in Du Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour

At the time of his death his address was Clyde Road in Clevedon in Somerset and his widowed mother was living at Weatheroak in Alvechurch in Birmingham

Please see the book “Lest We Forget” by Arthur Threlfall Searson for more information

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

Yate and District Heritage Centre and the book “Lest We Forget” by Arthur Threlfall Searson, Forces War Records