We regret to announce the death of Sapper Douglas Burpee “Doug” Rogers on 5 June 2012 in the Veterans’ wing of High-Crest Nursing Home in Springhill NS at 89 years of age.
Doug was born in Great Village NS and grew up in a family of two sisters and five brothers. He went to school in Great Village, Bass River, and then Springville when his father’s sawmill business moved to Pictou County.
On 9 September 1939, the day before Canada officially declared war, Doug and two brothers, Emerson and Sheldon boarded a train for Halifax to join the army. All three were assigned to the 1st Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers and started their training at Wellington Barracks in Halifax. They all ended up in the unit’s transport section assigned to the Headquarters Section as motorcyclists.
Shortly after Doug’s 19th birthday, on 27 January 1940, the company embarked and sailed from Pier 21 in Halifax with a strength of over 270 officers and men for the United Kingdom. They spent the first years of the war training in England. With his brother Sheldon, Doug took part in the Allied attempt to establish a second British Expeditionary Force in France, landing in Brest in June 1940. When Paris fell, the company withdrew from Brest and, within a week of landing in France, were back in England.
On 10 July 1943, three years and with more training and hard work under their belts, the 1st Field Company landed in Sicily as part of Operation HUSKY. Doug fought with the company through Italy until February 1945 when they were transferred to Holland, fighting to the very end. Doug was wounded during a bridging operation but recovered and remained in Germany with the Canadian Army Occupation Force. He returned home in February 1946. Shortly after arriving home, he was joined by his “War Bride” wife who he had married the previous November. They settled in Oxford, NS and Doug rejoined his father’s sawmill business. He later went on to work at the Folly Lake gravel quarry for 33 years.
Doug was a 65-year member of the Royal Canadian Legion and a past president of the Oxford branch. After retirement, he enjoyed growing his vegetable gardens, walking his Bouvier, Duke, and cutting and splitting his firewood until 2010.
A service celebrating Doug’s life will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 9, in MacDiarmid’s Funeral Home, 5075 Main Street, Oxford (447-2930) with Rev. Bill Cook officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Private condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mmcfunerals.com.
