William John Brooks was the son of James and Margaret Brooks. He was born on 5th July 1892 at Derrynoid, Draperstown. The family were farmers. William moved to Canada. William John Brooks enlisted on 11th January 1916 in Toronto. William had been living at 29 Wyndham Street, Toronto. He had been working as a driver. He gave his next of kin as Margaret Brooks, his mother who was still living in Derrynoid.
Private William John Brooks was serving with the 15th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry when he was killed in action in France and Flanders on 1st September 1918, just over a month before the war ended. He was 28 years old. It is believed Private William John Brooks won his Military Medal for his work on the day he died.
Further Information
William John Brooks was the son of James and Margaret Brooks. James Brooks married Margaret Wright on 15th December 1885 in the parish of Magherafelt.
William was born on 5th July 1892 at Derrynoid, Draperstown.
The 1901 census does not list William John as living with family at house 33 in Derrynoid, Draperstown, County Londonderry. His father, James Brooks, was a farmer.
Family: James Brooks, Margaret Brooks, Samuel Brooks (born 10th May 1887), James Brooks (born 12th November 1888), William John Brooks (born 15th July 1890), Agnes Brooks (born 13th December 1893), Thomas Brooks (born 9th December 1898), Margaret Brooks (born 26th December 1900), Cecil Brooks (born 31st January 1903), Sarah Brooks (born 24th December 1907).
The 1911 census lists William J as age 20 living with family at house 7 in Derrynoid, Draperstown, County Londonderry. William was working on his father’s farm.
William moved to Canada.
William had served 3 months as a Private with the 10th Royal Grenadiers in Canada.
William John Brooks enlisted on 11th January 1916 in Toronto. William had been living at 29 Wyndham Street, Toronto. He had been working as a driver. He gave his next of kin as Margaret Brooks, his mother who was still living in Derrynoid.
After training, Private Brooks arrived in England on 19th August 1916 on S.S. Scotian. By October he was at the front.
Private William John Brooks was serving with the 15th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry when he was killed in action in France and Flanders on 1st September 1918, just over a month before the war ended. He was 28 years old.
It is believed Private William John Brooks won his Military Medal for his work on the day he died.
The Canadian Circumstances of Death Register records that Private Brooks was killed in action on 1st September 1918. During an attack at Crow’s Nest, Chateau Wood near Hendecourt, and after the final objective had been reached, and while consolidating the position, Private Brooks was hit on the head by a bullet from the rifle of an enemy sniper and was instantly killed.
In his Last Will and Testament, William left all to his mother.
Private William John Brooks M.M. is buried in Dominion Cemetery, Hendecourt-Les-Cagnicourt, France.
The CWGC record Private W J Brooks M.M. as the son of James and Margaret Brooks of Derrynoid, Draperstown, Co. Londonderry.
