George William Brooks

War Service

During the first few months of the war George was in charge of the Recruiting Office in Normanton. In October 1914 he joined the newly formed 12th King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Pioneer Miners Battalion with the rank of Sergeant, rising through the ranks, being promoted to Company Quartermaster Sergeant, then in January 1917 he was awarded a commission (with the rank of Second Lieutenant) and posted to the Kings Royal Rifle Corps.
On 29 May 1918, while serving with the Kings Royal Rifles, George was killed. He is buried in Chocques Military Cemetery, Chocques, Pas de Calais, France.
A plaque honouring him hangs in Saint Mary Magdalene Church in Altofts.
George was well known and respected in both communities of Altofts and Normanton. At the time of George’s death Martha and their three children were living at Prospect Villa, Altofts. Later the family moved to “Greenlands”, Station Road, Altofts.
The inscription on George’s headstone reads “Until the day dawns”.
The following appeared in the Wakefield Express on 8 June 1918:
“SECOND LIEUTENANT GEORGE WILLIAM BROOKS, King’s Royal Rifles of Prospect Villa, Altofts was killed in France on the 29th. During the first few months of war he was in charge of the Recruiting Office in Normanton and then in October 1914, joined the newly formed Pioneer Miners Battalion of the K.O.Y.L.I. with the rank of Sergeant. Later he was promoted company quartermaster sergeant and went out to Egypt with his battalion afterwards proceeding to France. He was awarded a commission in January of last year and posted to the K.R.R. Sec. Lieut. Brooks served as a bugler with the Normanton Company of the Wakefield Volunteers in the South Africa Campaign and was one of those who on their return home, received the Freedom of the City of Wakefield. In private life he was an official at Messrs Pope and Pearson’s Colliery, Altofts, a former church warden at Altofts Parish Church and was very well respected throughout the Normanton and Altofts district. He leaves a widow and three young children, and his widow has received a letter from the Colonel of the battalion in which he speaks in very high terms of the deceased. A younger brother is serving as a Second Lieutenant attached to the Lincolnshire Regiment.”
Almost four months after the sad news of George’s death an article in the Wakefield Express on 28 September 1918 reported George’s younger brother Percy had been awarded the Military Cross.
MILITARY CROSS FOR ALTOFTS OFFICER
We learn this week that the Military Cross has been awarded for an act of conspicuous gallantry to Second-Lieutenant Brooks, King’s Royal Rifles, attached to the Lincoln Regiment. The gallant officer is the youngest son of Mr Samuel Brooks, Ivy Bank, Patience Lane, Altofts and he enlisted as a private in the K.R.R. in September 1914, rapidly rising in rank until he reached Staff Quartermaster-Sergeant. He gained his commission in March last and proceeded to France in April. Educated at Normanton Grammar School he held a good position on the London staff of the International Correspondence Schools at the time he enlisted. His elder brother, Second-Lieutenant Geo W. Brooks of the K.R.R. was killed in action in May last.”

Family Life

George William was born in Normanton in 1882, the first son of Samuel and Mary Brooks. Samuel, George’s father, had come from Gloucestershire to work on the railway as a railway guard.
In 1901 George lived with his parents, along with younger brothers Percy and Herbert, at 27, Church Road, Altofts. At the age of 19 George was working as a colliery foreman, Percy as a bank clerk and Henry was still at school.
On 16 July 1906 George married Martha Makin at the Saint Mary Magdalene Parish Church, Altofts. Their first child Mary Elizabeth was born on 17 January 1909. Later George and Martha had two more children.
In 1911 George’s family was living at 5, Cooperative Terrace, Altofts and he was still employed as a colliery foreman working above ground at Pope and Pearson’s Colliery, Altofts.