Robert Rodgers of Saltcoats

[hahaya2004]

DEATH OF AN INDIAN MUTINY VETERAN.
Robert Rodgers of Saltcoats
From the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 13/11/1908

Mr Robert Rodgers, of Raise Street, Saltcoats, who was one of the few Indian Mutiny veterans left, died on Wednesday of last week at his residence after a lengthy illness. Mr Rodgers was a native of Ardrossan, having been born in Glasgow Street seventy-five years ago. He was more connected with Saltcoats, however, as, when a young boy, his place of residence was changed to Raise Street, where he resided at the time of his death. In his youth he learned the baking trade, but at the age of 20 he enlisted at Stirling as a private in the 42nd (Black Watch) Highlanders. His experience in the army was not a very lengthy one as army service goes, but many exciting incidents were crowded into it. In 1855, the year he enlisted, he was dispatched along with his regiment to the Crimea, but they only got the length of Malta when peace was proclaimed, and they were sent home. After being stationed at Dover for some time, his regiment, in which owing to good conduct and ability he had been promoted first to corporal and then to sergeant, was drafted to India to assist in quelling the mutiny there. He came through the troublous times of the mutiny unscathed, and in 1860 was transferred to the Bengal Artillery, in which regiment he rose to the position of Battery Sergeant-Major. After about 8 years of service in India, he was invalided home owing to an attack of sunstroke, and he left the service, settling down in Saltcoats. On his return home he followed the weaving trade, and later found employment at the Ardeer Ironworks where he remained for the long period of 27 years. Later still he acted as keeper of the slaughter-house at Saltcoats, working for seven years in that capacity. In all the engagements Mr Rodgers look part in he escaped unwounded, but the attack of sunstroke was a serious affliction, and the effects were felt by him in his later life. About two years ago he was stricken down by illness and had since been confined to bed. A sketch of Mr Rodgers' career, with some of his experiences in the mutiny, appeared in the A, & S. Herald of 6th September. 1907. [*]
The funeral took place on Saturday last to Ardrossan Cemetery. The deceased, having rendered such good service to his regiment and country, was justly entitled to the usual military honours accorded to veterans. Accordingly the authorities at Ayr were communicated with, and they naturally referred the matter to the Depot of the regiment to which he belonged; but owing to the delay in transmitting the memorandum, the length of the journey between Saltcoats and Perth, and the ultimate cost to the public, it was apparently considered inadvisable to send the usual burial party. Nevertheless Major Campbell, commanding at Perth, recognised the desirability of paying a tribute to the services of the deceased, and accordingly instructed Corporal Campbell, at present on furlough in Saltcoats, to attend the funeral as the regiment's representative, and also to furnish a wreath on behalf of the Black Watch. The local members of the Territorial Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, under the command of Colour-Sergt. Bracken, were kind enough to attend, and thus pay their compliments to the past services of such a fine old soldier. Though the usual volleys were not heard, and the wail of "Lochaber" did not sound on the stillness of the air, the presence of Territorials and civilians, combined with the impressiveness of the ceremony, lent a sense of awe and simple reverence to the burial hour of a faithful soldier of the King.

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AN INDIAN MUTINY VETERAN
Mr Robert Rodgers, Saltcoats
From the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 06/09/1907

It is a far cry back to the time of the Indian Mutiny, and, as the years roll on, the actors in the scenes of bloodshed and cruelty and heroism associated with that memorable event are fast passing out of sight. There is now but one Indian Mutiny veteran living amongst us in this district, and not only is he a present residenter in the district, but he is also a native of it, and has stayed in it nearly all his life. Mr Robert Rodgers is an Ardrossan man, having been born in Glasgow Street, there, seventy-four years ago. He has been connected more with Saltcoats, however, as when but a boy his place of residence was changed to Raise Street, where he is at present. In his youth he learned the baking trade, but at the age of 20 he enlisted at Stirling as a private in the 42nd (Black Watch) Highlanders. His career in the army was not a very lengthy one, as army service goes, but he contrived to crowd into his term of service with the colours more exciting experiences than fall to the lot of many who serve for a much longer period. In 1855, the year he enlisted, he was despatched along with his regiment to the Crimea, but they had got only the length of Malta when peace was proclaimed, and they were sent home. After being stationed at Dover for some time, his regiment, in which, owing to his good conduct and ability, he had been promoted first to corporal and then to sergeant, was drafted to India to assist in quelling the Mutiny there. He came through the troublous times of the Mutiny unscathed, and in 1860 he was transferred to the Bengal Artillery, in which regiment he rose to the position of Battery Sergeant- Major. After about eight years of service in India, he was invalided home, owing to an attack of sunstroke, and he left the service, settling down in Saltcoats, where he has resided ever since. He followed the weaving trade for some time, and later found employment at the Ardeer Ironworks, where he remained for the long period of 27 years. Later still he acted as keeper of the slaughter house at Saltcoats, working for seven years in that capacity. About a year ago he was stricken down by illness, and he has since been confined to bed.
Mr Rodgers, although physically weak, still possesses the spirit of the old soldier, and he has some interesting and exciting stories to tell of his experiences during the Indian Mutiny. When his regiment arrived in India, the whole place was seething with sedition. They were immediately sent up country, being taken by train as far as the railway was laid, and thereafter by carts. Their journey in those carts which, in Mr Rodger's own words, "appeared to have been made in the days of Moses", was a very trying one, the wheels of the carts being anything but round, and the road being very hot and dusty. On their way up country they were continually having short skirmishes with the rebels, and in these no quarter was given. Any rebels captured were killed as soon as possible in one way or another. After one of these skirmishes, the enemy retired to their village, and the troops, surrounding the place, captured it and killed great numbers of the natives. Those who were not shot were strung up on trees, and Mr Rodgers says that on some of the trees bodies were hanging "like blackberries on a bush". He counted thirty-six bodies on one tree. It was in another of these engagements that Lord Roberts won his V. C., and the subject of our sketch was in the field when young Roberts, then a lieutenant in a Bengal regiment, performed his heroic action. His first really important engagement was at the siege of Lucknow, and he describes how during the time the siege lasted, the soldiers had scarcely any rest, how when the town was captured they ransacked the houses and killed the rebels, and how the bodies were taken outside the town, and, after being piled up, were burnt. About thirty thousand, he says, were killed at the siege and capture. The Forty-Second were also at Cawnpore where the atrocious cruelties had been committed by Nana Sahib, and at Maratabad[sic] and Bareilly. He tells an exciting incident which happened at the later place. His regiment and the Ninety Third were drawn up in front of the village, and a loyal native regiment was sent in to drive the rebels out. On returning, the native regiment made for the Highlanders’ lines, and the Ninety-Third opened out to allow them to pass through. Just then Sir Colin Campbell came up, and seeing the Ninety-Third opening up to allow the natives to pass, he shouted out that he was ashamed of them and ordered them to shoot every black face in front of them. The order had to be carried out, and every native, loyal or rebel, was killed. In all the engagements Mr Rodgers came through, he escaped unwounded, but the attack of sunstroke with which he was stricken down while in the artillery was a serious affliction, and its effects are still felt by him. He possesses the Lucknow medal with two bars.
We are sure it is the genuine wish of all that the gallant old soldier, who served his country so bravely and well through most trying time, may be granted renewed health and strength, and may yet enjoy many more years in his native district.