I am trying to trace relatives past and present for Willliam Frances Brookes who's army number was 12043 and who died on the Somme on 1st Nov 1916. He was a regular soldier and served in "A" Coy, 2nd Battalion, Worcester Regiment but was born in Aston Birmingham. His mother was Sarah Ann Brookes who's address on his death was 4 back of 22 (or 2) Wainwright Street, Aston. Any information with regards to his family would be very much appreciated
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Brookes William Francis 1891c MM and Bar
- Thread starter cat179
- Start date
bren
master brummie
Re: William Francis Brookes 1891c MM and Bar
Hi cat
I found this birth --
William Francis Brookes 4th qtr 1894 Birmingham 6d 10
Can't seem to find him on the 1901 census
I did find these, his Medal Card and his name on the Birmingham Roll of Honour
View attachment 22762 View attachment 22763
bren
Hi cat
I found this birth --
William Francis Brookes 4th qtr 1894 Birmingham 6d 10
Can't seem to find him on the 1901 census
I did find these, his Medal Card and his name on the Birmingham Roll of Honour
View attachment 22762 View attachment 22763
bren
bren
master brummie
Re: William Francis Brookes 1891c MM and Bar
cat, do you have any other information regards his parents, names, ages etc. If not and you think that birth reg i gave is correct it would be best to send for it as all the info we need to look further will be on there. I have found what could be his parents marriage but at this stage it is only speculation but worth keeping in mind --
William Brookes/Sarah Ann Davis 4th qtr 1893 Birmingham 6d 9
bren
cat, do you have any other information regards his parents, names, ages etc. If not and you think that birth reg i gave is correct it would be best to send for it as all the info we need to look further will be on there. I have found what could be his parents marriage but at this stage it is only speculation but worth keeping in mind --
William Brookes/Sarah Ann Davis 4th qtr 1893 Birmingham 6d 9
bren
Pomgolian
Kiwi Brummie
Re: William Francis Brookes 1891c MM and Bar
From the CWGC site :
https://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=765198
Name:BROOKES, WILLIAM FRANCIS
Nationality:United Kingdom
Rank:Serjeant
Regiment/Service:Worcestershire Regiment
Unit Text:"A" Coy. 2nd Bn.
Age:25
Date of Death:01/11/1916
Service No:12043
Awards:M M and Bar
Additional information:Son of Mrs. Sarah Ann Brookes, of 4 Back, 22, Wainwright St., Aston, Birmingham.
Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference pier and Face 5 A and 6 C.
Memorial:THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
On 1 July 1916, supported by a French attack to the south, thirteen divisions of Commonwealth forces launched an offensive on a line from north of Gommecourt to Maricourt. Despite a preliminary bombardment lasting seven days, the German defences were barely touched and the attack met unexpectedly fierce resistance. Losses were catastrophic and with only minimal advances on the southern flank, the initial attack was a failure. In the following weeks, huge resources of manpower and equipment were deployed in an attempt to exploit the modest successes of the first day. However, the German Army resisted tenaciously and repeated attacks and counter attacks meant a major battle for every village, copse and farmhouse gained. At the end of September, Thiepval was finally captured. The village had been an original objective of 1 July. Attacks north and east continued throughout October and into November in increasingly difficult weather conditions. The Battle of the Somme finally ended on 18 November with the onset of winter.
From the CWGC site :
https://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=765198
Name:BROOKES, WILLIAM FRANCIS
Nationality:United Kingdom
Rank:Serjeant
Regiment/Service:Worcestershire Regiment
Unit Text:"A" Coy. 2nd Bn.
Age:25
Date of Death:01/11/1916
Service No:12043
Awards:M M and Bar
Additional information:Son of Mrs. Sarah Ann Brookes, of 4 Back, 22, Wainwright St., Aston, Birmingham.
Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference pier and Face 5 A and 6 C.
Memorial:THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
On 1 July 1916, supported by a French attack to the south, thirteen divisions of Commonwealth forces launched an offensive on a line from north of Gommecourt to Maricourt. Despite a preliminary bombardment lasting seven days, the German defences were barely touched and the attack met unexpectedly fierce resistance. Losses were catastrophic and with only minimal advances on the southern flank, the initial attack was a failure. In the following weeks, huge resources of manpower and equipment were deployed in an attempt to exploit the modest successes of the first day. However, the German Army resisted tenaciously and repeated attacks and counter attacks meant a major battle for every village, copse and farmhouse gained. At the end of September, Thiepval was finally captured. The village had been an original objective of 1 July. Attacks north and east continued throughout October and into November in increasingly difficult weather conditions. The Battle of the Somme finally ended on 18 November with the onset of winter.
Pomgolian
Kiwi Brummie
Re: William Francis Brookes 1891c MM and Bar
I wonder if this could be his family in 1891:
Civil Parish: Aston
Ecclesiastical Parish: Ss Peter & Paul
Address: 14 Crt 5 Hse Wainwright St
Surname First name(s) Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born BROOKES George Head M M 30 Stamper(Em'ee) Warwickshire - Birmingham
BROOKES Sarah A Wife M F 28 Warwickshire - Birmingham
BROOKES Florrie Dau - F 4 Warwickshire - Aston
I wonder if this could be his family in 1891:
Civil Parish: Aston
Ecclesiastical Parish: Ss Peter & Paul
Address: 14 Crt 5 Hse Wainwright St
Surname First name(s) Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born BROOKES George Head M M 30 Stamper(Em'ee) Warwickshire - Birmingham
BROOKES Sarah A Wife M F 28 Warwickshire - Birmingham
BROOKES Florrie Dau - F 4 Warwickshire - Aston
Re: William Francis Brookes 1891c MM and Bar
Hi Bren and Pomgolian... how brilliant for such a fast response. I had managed to find all the info you've tracked for me with the exception of the parish register details and wouldn't that just be amazing if Williams father ws also am MM winner? ... possibly a family trait. Unfortunately I have no other details other than Williams mothers name and address and the fact that William himself was in a relationship with a Lilian Payne, also of Wainwright Street. At some time (during a leave absence I presume) they conceived a son of which William had no knowledge as he died prior to his sons birth. Lilian shows her maiden name as Brookes on her sons birth register but we know that she was not married at his birth (we feel that this was her effort to help her son trace his fathers family at some later date) I am beginning to feel that maybe only present relatives will be able to help us but I will carry on delving until I can do no more. All contributions of research are very gratefully received ... thanks again
Hi Bren and Pomgolian... how brilliant for such a fast response. I had managed to find all the info you've tracked for me with the exception of the parish register details and wouldn't that just be amazing if Williams father ws also am MM winner? ... possibly a family trait. Unfortunately I have no other details other than Williams mothers name and address and the fact that William himself was in a relationship with a Lilian Payne, also of Wainwright Street. At some time (during a leave absence I presume) they conceived a son of which William had no knowledge as he died prior to his sons birth. Lilian shows her maiden name as Brookes on her sons birth register but we know that she was not married at his birth (we feel that this was her effort to help her son trace his fathers family at some later date) I am beginning to feel that maybe only present relatives will be able to help us but I will carry on delving until I can do no more. All contributions of research are very gratefully received ... thanks again
Re: William Francis Brookes 1891c MM and Bar
oh dear ... how stupid am I!.... I've just realized that the 'MM' refered to in your parish extract Pomgolian refers to 'married male' ........ just proof that I'm a beginner! can I ask where you got the information from?... I cant seem to find them in the census records for 1891 either. thanks again
oh dear ... how stupid am I!.... I've just realized that the 'MM' refered to in your parish extract Pomgolian refers to 'married male' ........ just proof that I'm a beginner! can I ask where you got the information from?... I cant seem to find them in the census records for 1891 either. thanks again
Pomgolian
Kiwi Brummie
Re: William Francis Brookes 1891c MM and Bar
Cat my friend you are not 'stupid ' but just as you said a beginner..... You'd be surprised at some of the mistakes I made when first starting out. It took me ages to work out what this meant on a census 'FatL' next to a 61 year old widower living with his daughter.
I soon realised, that on a census it states next to all names in a household what relationship to the head they are, in this case it was Father-in-Law.
Just click on the underlined links below and the pages will come up
If you go to this section on the forum you will find lots of good tips. .
Help, advice, tips and tricks!
Here was where the service record was found
https://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_...asualty=765198
and this gives you free look ups on the 1841 and 1891 Warwickshire Cen's
ttp://freecen.rootsweb.com
Hope this helps
Chris/ Pom :angel:
Cat my friend you are not 'stupid ' but just as you said a beginner..... You'd be surprised at some of the mistakes I made when first starting out. It took me ages to work out what this meant on a census 'FatL' next to a 61 year old widower living with his daughter.
I soon realised, that on a census it states next to all names in a household what relationship to the head they are, in this case it was Father-in-Law.
Just click on the underlined links below and the pages will come up
If you go to this section on the forum you will find lots of good tips. .
Help, advice, tips and tricks!
Here was where the service record was found
https://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_...asualty=765198
and this gives you free look ups on the 1841 and 1891 Warwickshire Cen's
ttp://freecen.rootsweb.com
Hope this helps
Chris/ Pom :angel: