Medals awarded
- Victory Medal 1914-19
MID Oakleaf - British War Medal 1914-20
- Defence Medal 1939-45
- War Medal 1939-45
- Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Medals are shown left to right, as per the bullet point list above.
William Brooks was born in 1883 in Kirkstead, Lincolnshire and joined the Yorkshire Regiment in March 1903; his trade on enlistment was Labourer. He initially signed up for three years and nine with the Reserve. He was described as having a ‘Fresh complexion with grey eyes and dark brown hair’.
His Service book lists his promotions showing his becoming Corporal before joining the Reserves in 1910.
He was mobilised on the 5th August, 1914 and was appointed Sergeant later that month, serving with the Green Howards throughout the First World War.
Brooks, middle row, second from right.
After the war he married Dorothy and had two children, Winifred and Doreen. He became Acting Assistant CQMS in 1923 before becoming CQMS in 1925.
Brooks, middle row, second from left.
He left the regiment in 1930 to become an Estate Gardener in County Durham, but later returned to serve in the Second World War. William Brooks died, aged 80, in November 1964.