Rodger, Mathew Freer

Details
Category: 1916-17

Matthew [Mathew] Freer Rodger

Scottish Rifles

2nd Batt. Scottish Rifles
He is remembered with honour on the Thiepval Memorial, St Columba’s Church Roll of Honour, Larchfield School Memorial, Merchiston Castle School memorial, Corpus Christi Oxford Roll of Honour and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 2 Line 18.

The family home was Rossland, 19, East Montrose Street, Helensburgh. The son of Campbell and Catherine Rodger.
Siblings: Mathew had one older brother, Patrick.
Mathew Rodger was born in Helensburgh and brought up in the town, where his father was a clay pipe manufacturer. He was educated at Miss Johnston's School, Larchfield Academy and Merchiston Castle School, where he was Captain of the school. He attained a B.A. in Greats at Corpus Christi College, Oxford where he was captain of rugby and rowed for the college at Henley. He also studied at Freiburg University and was awarded a BA LLB at Edinburgh in 1911, being admitted as a Writer to the Signet in the same year, later working for Carmichael and Miller WS. He was a keen sportsman enjoying rugby, gymnastics, shooting and sailing off the West Coast.
Mathew was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in September 1914 and left for France in May 1915. He was killed in action successfully taking a German trench near Le Transloy, aged 30 years. His remains were not recovered.
Matthew was married to his fiancée Nell after his death by a decree of declatory of marriage. He had been unbale to obtain leave to return to marry her and Nell gave birth to their son a week after Matthew’s death.