Saturday 25 April 2015

Rodgers, Keith Ashworth - Sub-Lieutenant

(No soldier photo available)
753 Sqdn. 
Fleet Air Arm
Died 18 October 1945
Age 22

Sub-Lieutenant Keith Rodgers was flying a Fairey Barracuda from his base at H.M.S. Condor, Arbroath, Scotland, to Burscough, Lancashire, when he crashed in dense fog at Martin Mere, near Scarisbrick. He died shortly afterwards in Seaforth Naval Hospital. On the same evening, his parents were celebrating their Silver Wedding in the Co-operative Hall, Haslingden. It became clear that Keith was overdue, although it was not until midnight that the sad news came through. A party of his relatives went to the hospital but they were too late to see him alive.

Keith was the son of Harry and Fay Rodgers. He was 22. He had been married to Beryl for two months. He worshipped at St.John's, Stonefold, where he was in the choir. On leaving Haslingden Grammar School, Keith worked as a railway clerk until he joined the Fleet Air Arm in 1941. He was active member of Haslingden Swimming Club.

Keith was cremated at Rochdale on Monday 22 October 1945, after a service by the vicar of St.John's, Crawshawbooth, (where Beryl was a teacher at the Day School). Rochdale Crematorium is within Rochdale Cemetery. During the 1939-1945 War 55 war dead were cremated. Keith's name is Panel 6 on a memorial screen wall in the cemetery.