Name
William (Willie) George Brooks
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/09/1918
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
6802
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
18th (Service) Bn. (1st Public Works Pioneers)
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
FINS NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, SOREL-LE-GRAND
Plot V, Row E, Grave 21.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Andrew's Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of George and Minnie Jane (nee INGRAM) BROOKS of Watford.
His parents married 1895 in the Holborn, London, district. Minnie died 1956 in the Watford district aged 84.
William was born 7 January 1897 in Hornsey, Middx. He attended first Callow Land Infants’ School, Watford; then Callowland Board School from 11 January 1904 to 22 December 1910. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 4 he lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, a grocer’s boy aged 14, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Marylebone, London, and was formerly 21304 9th Reserve Cavalry. He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 25 July 1915, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, William’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is an article about and a Death announcement for William in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 5 October 1918; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 27 September 1919.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
