Historical information

This Bible was given in March 1916 to Private Henry Havelock Rogers (1895-1917), the son of Joseph and Ellen Rogers of Warrnambool. He left Australia in April 1916 as a member of the 14th Battalion (17 Reinforcement Group) and died in France in April 1917 as a result of wounds. The cousins named on the card were the three older children of Arthur and Agnes Rogers, also of Warrnambool. Joseph and Arthur Rogers were brothers. The Bible was found in the MacDonald Street, South Warrnambool home of Bill Rogers, another son of Arthur and Agnes Rogers not born until the 1920s (deceased estate item).

Significance

This item has a particular poignancy as it was given to a Warrnambool World War One soldier who was killed in action. Perhaps he carried the Bible with him and it was returned to his family after his death.

Physical description

This is a brown leather-covered book of 822 pages. The cover extends over the edges of the pages and has gold lettering on the front cover and spine. The pages are gilt-edged and there are several colour maps at the end of the book. There is a blue ribbon marker encased in the binding. The inscription is on a loose card and is handwritten in black ink.

Inscriptions & markings

‘To Dear Harry Wishing Him God Speed & Safe Return From His Loving Uncle, Aunt And Cousins, Rita, Alfie & Charlie’.