William James Brooks
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William James Brooks was born in 1891 at Upper Broughton and was the son of William a coal merchant and Julia Rosanna Brooks née Barltrop of Corner House, Upper Broughton, Nottinghamshire. His father William was born in 1855 at Widmerpool and his mother Julia Rosaana Barltrop was born in 1859 in Ashton, Cambridgeshire. They were married in 1882 at London City and went on to the have the following children, all born at Upper Broughton, Harry b1883, Mary Elizabeth b1885, Lillian b1886, William James b1891, Samuel Maurice B1894 Leonard Morton b1895, Elsie b1897 and Ivy Bella b1899. In the 1911 census the family are living at Corner House, Upper Broughton and are shown as William 56 yrs a coal merchant, he is living with his wife Julia 52 yrs and their children, Mary Elizabeth 26 yrs no occupation listed, William James 20 yrs working on a farm, Leonard Morton 16 yrs working on a farm, Samuel Maurice 17 yrs working on a farm, Elsie 14 yrs a scholar and Ivy Bella 12 yrs a scholar.
Gunner William James Brooks enlisted at Melton Mowbray and served with the 308th Siege battery Royal Garrison Artillery. He died of his wounds on 30th October 1917 and is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.
His brother Private Leonard Morton Brooks was called up on 27th March 1916 and reported to the Base Depot at Derby for training the following day. He was posted to the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment). He embarked from Folkstone on 26th September 1916, disembarking the same day at Boulogne and went to Etaples Base Depot. He served until 21st November 1917 when he was returned to England for agricultural duties being a skilled ploughman. He returned to the Western Front on 30th March 1918 and rejoined his old regiment the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment. He went missing in action on 20th July 1918 and was later classed as killed in action on that date. Having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Sissons Memorial, Aisne, France.
