Name
James John Brooks
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
266108
Hertfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 54 and 56.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hertford Town Memorial, All Saints Church Memorial, Hertford, Hertford United Reformed Church, Christchurch Plaque, now in Holy Trinity Church, Bengeo, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Born in 1895 or 6 in Hertford son of James John and Annie Mary (Savage) Brooks, he was one of six children.
In 1901 they were living at 87 Somerset Terrace, Hertford in 1901 and his father was employed as a sawyer. The 1911 census shows that his mother was now a widow and ran a boarding house at 87 West Street, Hertford and James was employed as a boot shop assistant. In 1911. He later lived at in 42 Wellington Street, Hertford.
Born in 1895, in Hertford, to parents James John and Annie Mary, he was one of six. In 1901 they were living at 87 Somerset Terrace, Hertford and his father was employed as a sawyer. The 1911 census shows that his mother was now a widow and ran a boarding house at 87 West Street, Hertford and James was employed as a shop assistant.
Wartime Service
Enlisted in Hertford, the battalion went to France in November 1914.
In July 1917 they were moved to camp near Poperinghe for training prior to a major offensive.
At 3.50am on 31st July they went into action at the start of the 3rd Battle of Ypres. Their objective was the village of Langemarck, they reached the German first line only to find the wire hardly damaged and very thick. Part of "C" Coy. managed to get through but the rest of the battalion was held up by heavy machine gun fire and a German counter attack and was forced to retire.
James was killed in action during this attack, but his body was never found.
Additional Information
Brother of Private Joseph Walker Brooks who was killed in action and is also commemorated on these memorials.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Terry & Glenis Collins, Jonty Wild
