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Ted Rogers

A veteran interview with

Edward Rogers

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About Edward Rogers

Edward Rogers, known as ‘Ted’ to his friends, was born in Liverpool in 1924. Following the Blitz, Ted was still too young to join the Royal Navy aged only 16. However instead of waiting to be called up once he was old enough, he instead made the bold decision to join the Merchant Navy as an apprentice.

Although Ted didn’t yet know it, his first sea voyage would change his life forever.

While sailing aboard the Alfred Jones, Ted and his crew were part of a vicious torpedo attack, by a U-Boat commanded by the formidable Günther Hessler. After being given orders to abandon ship as fire broke out, Ted made the unfortunate discovery that his allocated lifeboat had been destroyed in the explosion, and that he would have to swim to another for any chance of survival.

Stranded 120 miles from shore in a small, overcrowded lifeboat, he was incredibly lucky to survive, though sadly two other members of the crew were not so fortunate. As part of life in the MN, burials at sea were not uncommon, however for Ted he mainly recalls the great camaraderie he shared with his crew, despite the constant threat of U-Boat attacks, including celebrations for Christmas and the eventual end of the war.

It took another year following the end of the war for Ted to be demobilised, where he faced yet another big decision about his future, having to choose between maintaining a romantic relationship or training for the priesthood. Ted chose the latter, which would mark the beginning of yet another great adventure in his life.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Toby Boddy

Copyright:
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A veteran interview with

Edward Rogers

Ted Rogers

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Rogers, Edward. A Veteran Interview with Edward Rogers. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, 8 Mar. 2014 https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/edward-rogers/. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.
APA Style:
Rogers, E. (2014, March 8). A Veteran Interview with Edward Rogers [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved April 26, 2025, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/edward-rogers/
Chicago Style:
Rogers, Edward. 2014. A Veteran Interview with Edward Rogers. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, March 8. Accessed April 26, 2025. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/edward-rogers/
Harvard Style:
Rogers, E. (2014). A Veteran Interview with Edward Rogers. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee, 8 March. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/edward-rogers/ (Accessed: 26 April 2025)
Vancouver Style:
Rogers, E. A Veteran Interview with Edward Rogers [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; 2014 Mar 8 [cited 2025 Apr 26]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/edward-rogers/
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