BROOKS, Arthur Edmond
| Service Number: | 3034 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1915, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Belalie, near Jamestown, South Australia, 8 July 1890 |
| Home Town: | Jamestown, Northern Areas, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Jamestown Public School, South Australia, Australia |
| Occupation: | Chaff Merchant |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 20 July 1916, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Jamestown Friendly Society Roll of Honour, Jamestown Presbyterian Church WW1 Honor Roll, Jamestown Soldier's Memorial Park Arch, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3034, Depot Battalion , Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Jan 1916: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 3034, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Medic embarkation_ship_number: A7 public_note: '' |
|
| 12 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3034, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Medic, Adelaide | |
| 4 Apr 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 32nd Infantry Battalion, T.O.S. from 27th Infantry Battalion | |
| 6 Apr 1916: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 3034, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Middle East / Mediterranean Theatre, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3034 awm_unit: 32nd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-20 |
|
| 23 Jun 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3034, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) |
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Add my storyBiography
born 8/7/1890 in Belalie, Near Jamestown, South Australia
(Birth Source: 1842 - 1906 Book: 463 Page: 224 District: Cla.)
Son of Thomas Brooks and Mother Laura Jane (nee Hopgood) living in Jamestown SA.
Father Thomas was the owner of the Excelsior Chaff Mill, on the site of the old ‘Belalie Hotel’ (the Bostons Hotel in 1995).
Arthur was a capital lacrosse player from his school days up, and was a member of the
Interstate Team and a member of the Foresters Lodge.
Prior to the war he worked as a Chaff Merchant at his father's Chaff Mill and was
the right-hand man in the horse department.
Siblings:
Older brother Joseph Johnston Brooks - Lieutenant 3rd Light Horse Regiment
b. 1/7/1887 - d. 12/4/1953
16/5/1919 returned to Australia
m. 8/9/1920 Daisy Brown
Sister Laura Beatrice Kemp (nee Brooks)
b. 23/4/1889 in Clare - d.
m. ______ to Vivian Charles Ernest Kemp, b. 1/1/1886 in Adelaide
living at Wirrabara
(Vivian's parents William James KEMP and Mother Lavinia BROWN)
Sister Blanche Isabella Kemp (nee Brooks)
b. 9/8/1891 - d.
m. ______ to Ivan Ralph Kemp, b. 16/2/1924 Moonta Bay
(Ivan’s parents Victor KEMP and Ruby Myrtle OLDS)
Next of kin in service:
Older brother Lieutenant Joseph Johnston Brooks (Joe or JJ) b. 1/7/1887 - d. 12/4/1953
3rd Light Horse Regiment
Sthn Austn Birth Source: 1842 - 1906 Book: 397 Page: 165 District: Cla.
Returned to Australia (disembarked back in Australia 26/6/1919)
Cousin 16222 David Thomas Brooks
Father Frederick BROOKS and Mother Mrs Mary Brooks (nee Ross) of Jamestown
Private in 8th Field Ambulance
b. 14/3/1888 in Whyte Yarcowie, South Australia
Sth Austn Births source: 1842 - 1906 Book: 413 Page: 255 District: Fro.
returned to Jamestown
Cousin 3035 Elliott Harvey Brooks (brother to David)
Father Frederick BROOKS and Mother Mrs Mary Brooks (nee Ross) of Jamestown
32nd Battalion
b. 24/5/1889 in Whyte Yarcowie, South Australia
Sth Austn Births source: 1842 - 1906 Book: 439 Page: 187 District: Bur.
Returned 11/12/1918 to Australia
d. 26/5/1949
Described on enlisting as 24 years 1 month old; single; 6' 8 3/4" tall; 155 lbs;
fresh complexion; blue eyes; light brown hair; Presbyterian
12/8/1915 completed medical in Adelaide - fit for service
18/8/1915 Enlisted with his best friend, 3042 Private Anthony Ray Burford from Jamestown, in Adeliade
(they remained tent mates up to the time when they made the great sacrifice
in the Battle of Armentiers).
18/8/1915 Commanding Officer appointed Arthur to F Company, 2nd Depot Company
Mitcham Camp
12/1/1916 Arthur and cousin Elliott embarked together from Outer Harbour, Pt Adelaide
on board HMAT Medic (A7)
with the 7th Infantry Brigade, 27th Infantry Battalion, 7th reinforcements
After another stint in Egypt, the 7th Brigade proceeded to France as part of the 2nd Australian Division. The 27th Battalion entered the front-line trenches for the first time on 7 April 1916 (later taking part in its first major battle at Pozières between 28/7 and 5/8/1916).
6/4/1916 transferred to the 32nd Battalion, Duntroon Plateau
17/6/1916 embarked to join British Expeditionary Forces, Alexandria
23/6/1916 disembarked ex HMT Transylvania, Marseilles, France
The 32nd Battalion fought its first major battle at Fromelles on 19/7/1916, having only entered the front-line trenches 3 days previously. The attack was a disastrous introduction to battle for the 32nd - it suffered 718 casualties, almost 75 per cent of the battalion’s total strength, but closer to 90 per cent of its actual fighting strength. Although it still spent periods in the front line, the 32nd played no major offensive role for the rest of the year.
20/7/1916 originally noted as Missing in Action
20/7/1916 Private Arthur Brooks was killed in action in France
12/8/1917 (Court of Inquiry - confirmed Arthur had been killed in action in the field,
in the Fromelles vicinity, France)
Killed in the Battle of Armentieries
buried in: NO known grave
commemorated at:
Panel No 5, VC Corner, Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France.
Medals:
British War medal (29593); Victory Medal (29711);
Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll (329615).
Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 2/1/2015. Lest we forget.
Click images to start slideshow.