Harry Wistow Brooks
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Harry Wistow Brooks was born in the village of Clarborough in Nottinghamshire in 1898. Harry’s middle name of Wistow came from his mother’s maiden name. He was the son of a farmer and market gardener, Arthur and Alice Brooks and the brother of five sisters, Mabel, Agnes, Alice May, Edith and Evelyn Brooks. The family left Clarborough by 1905 and by 1911 were living at 224 Gateford Road Worksop Nottinghamshire. where their father worked as a basic maker in a stone quarry.
Harry attested at Retford on the 26th August 1916 but it was the 11th October before he landed in France. Whilst there he suffered lengthy bouts of trench foot which put him in hospital on two occasions. He died at a Casualty Clearing Station, France, on Oct 9th from gunshot wounds in the abdomen and is buried in the Tincourt British Cemetery. Somme, France grave reference VII A 23 Pte Harry Brookes Worksop Guardian 25 October 1918 'We report with regret the death of Pte Harry Brookes, Notts and Derbys, only son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Brookes, 224 Gateford Road, Worksop. On Friday Mr and Mrs Brookes received the following telegram from the War Office, “Regret to inform you that Pte H Brookes, Notts and Derbys Regiment, died on Oct 9th at 12 Casualty Clearing Station, France, from gunshot wounds in the abdomen.” This is all the information that has been received up to the present. Pte Brookes who was a fine looking young man of only 20 years of age, volunteered for service after he had been exempted in May 1917. He was sent to France in October the same year, and sent home suffering from a wound in the knee and trench feet the latter end of November. After recovery he was sent out again in May this year. Well known and greatly respected, he was employed at Steetley Quarry. The family came from Clarborough, where Mrs Brookes’ father, Mr John Whistow is a well known farmer. As a youth, Pte Brookes was employed by the late Mr T Turner at Scofton House and previously worked as an errand lad at Mr W H Fox’s. He was connected with St Anne’s Bible Class and Church, and was a member of the St Anne’s Ambulance Class.' Pte H Brookes Retford Times 1st Nov 1918 Pte H Brookes, Notts and Derbys Regt, son of Mr and Mrs A Brookes, 249 Gateford Road Worksop, died at a Casualty Clearing Station, France, on Oct 9th from gunshot wounds in the abdomen. Deceased was 20 years of age and a native of Clarborough, where his grandfather, Mr J Wistow is a well known farmer. The deceased soldier worked at Steetley Quarry and volunteered for service in May 17th, after being exempted, and was drafted to France in October. A wound in the knee and “trench feet” bought his back to England again in November but he was once more sent out to France in May. Before enlisting he was connected with Worksop St Anne’s Church and was a member of the Bible Class.
*Spelt BrookEs on the Priory Church and Worksop Cenotaph Memorials and in the Guardian article. However he is registered as Brooks on Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Harry Wistow Brooks at birth. Buried: Tincourt New British Cemetery. Research by Colin Dannatt
