The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private J Brooks

Private James BROOKS, L/6289, 2nd Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, died from wounds, Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force, whilst a Prisoner of War, 30th June 1916.

Born Woolwich, Kent, son of A Brooks, Victoria ......, Abel Smith Street, Wellington, New Zealand. Aunt, Mrs Elizabeth Brazener, 36 Sand Street, Woolwich.

Militia Service with 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment from 24th April1900 to 9th June 1901. On enlistment, resided at 2 Sarah Place, Chapel Street, Woolwich. Formerly machinist, Royal Dockyard. Age 25 years 10 months, height 5ft 7 inches, weight 140lbs.

Enlisted Woolwich, Kent, age 24 years, 8 months, height 5ft 7½ inches, weight 137lbs, fresh complexion, hazel eyes, dark brown hair, scars in front of ????, scars left side of ankle, tattoo marks & scar back of left hand, tattoo marks right forearm. Resided 36 Sand Street, Woolwich, Kent. Formerly labourer in Royal Dockyard, Woolwich, Kent.

Home, 23rd September 1901 to 25th April 1902; South Africa, 26th April 1902 to 4th November 1902; Ceylon, 5th November 1902 to 4th October 1904; China, 5th October 1904 to 12th November 1906; Singapore, 13th November 1906 to 14th December 1908; Home, 15th December 1908 to 4th January 1911; India from 5th January 1911.

23rd September 1901, enlisted & posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 25th February 1902, Sentenced by Civil Power at Woolwich, to 21 days in HM Prison Wandsworth, with hard labour, for feloniously steal, take and carry away the sum of eight shillings and sixpence, the monies of Samuel Ansett; 18th March 1902, to Duty from Prison; 25th April 1902, posted 2nd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 4th October 1902, appointed Lance Corporal; 1st November 1902, drunk in Long Street at about 9.00pm, reprimanded; 14th January 1903, promoted Corporal; 19th October 1903 awaiting trial; 20th October 1903, tried & convicted & reduced to the ranks, for breaking out of Barracks; 22nd February 1904, awarded swimming certificate; 1st April 1904, permitted to extend his service to complete 8 years with the Colours; 25th August 1904, being in possession of liquor in Barracks about 9.50pm, 8 days confined to Barracks; 15th July 1905, irregular conduct in Town, 10 days confined to Barracks; 6th July 1908, absent from Tattoo until 11.30pm, drunk returning to Barracks at 11.30pm, 8 days confined to Barracks, fined 2/6; 11th August 1908, absent from Tattoo until 6.50pm, 12th August, 8 days confined to Barracks, forfeits 2 days pay; 14th December 1908, posted 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 20th June 1909, deserted; 3rd December 1909, In Civil Custody; 4th December 1909, in Military Custody; 4th December 1909, awaiting trial; 14th December 1909, tried for desertion and deficiencies of kit. Sentenced to 42 days detention (14th December 1909 to 24th January 1910), all former Service forfeited; 18th December 1909, to Detention Barracks; 18th January 1910, to Duty; 5th January 1911, posted 2nd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 6th October 1911, Cherat, being in bed 15 minutes after Reveille, using obscene language to an NCO, 96 hours detention; 9th May 1913, Cherat, using obscene language to an NCO, 168 hours detention; 1st June 1914, Multan, quitting the Barracks after Tattoo Roll Call, gambling in an unoccupied Dergeants bunk about 11.00pm, 14 days confined to Barracks; 29th January to 4th March 1915, Hydrabad Hospital pneumonia; 3rd July 1915 joined Battalion, India Expeditionary Force "D" at Basra; 29th April 1916, Kut al Amara, Prisoner of War.

Died on the march between Mosul & Nisiben, whilst a Prisoner of War between 1st & 30th June 1916. Particulars furnished by other Prisoners of War in Turkey and received through the Geneva Red Cross Society have been accepted as sufficient evidence for official purposes. Died at Yarbachi Hospital, blood poisoning from wound in leg.

29th May 1919, Enquiry to New Scotland Yard in respect of next of kin, Mrs Elizabeth Brazener, 36 Sand Street, Woolwich. Police report - I beg to report, having made enquiries with a view to trace Mrs Elizabeth Brazener, late of 36 Sand Street, Woolwich, but without success.

4th December 1920, War Office Memo - retain medals pending application, when reference should be made to War Office (AG10). Next of Kin not traced.

Commemorated at Basra Memorial, Panel 29, Iraq.

London Gazette 28th November 1919.

SOLDIERS' AND AIRMEN'S BALANCES UNDISPOSED OF.

In pursuance of "The Regimental Debts Act, 1893," notice is hereby given that there is available for distribution amongst the Next of Kin or others entitled the sum of money set opposite to the name of each of the deceased Soldiers and Airmen named in the lists which are published with this notice in the London Gazette and the "Army List," and are also to be seen at the Regimental Depots throughout the United Kingdom.

Applications from persons supposing themselves entitled as Next of Kin should be addressed by letter to "The Secretary, War Office, Park Buildings, St. James's Park, London, S.W.," and marked outside "Effects."

R. H. BRADE. War Office, November 28, 1919,

List CCCCXXIX of the names of deceased Soldiers whose Personal Estate is held for distribution amongst the Next-of-Kin or others entitled. Effects 1918-19.

Brooks J, Private, Royal West Kent Regiment. £30 15s 2d.

This page was last updated on 27-Apr-2017.