Private 10960 Gladwyn Brooks
Killed in Action on Wednesday, 22nd September 1915, age 25.
Buried in Grave II. D. 10. at Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, Pas De Calais, France.
2nd Bn., Worcestershire Regiment. 5th Brigade of 2nd Division.
Son of Charles and the late Rosanna Brooks, stepson of Mary Brooks.
Born: Taunton, Enlisted: Dudley, Resident: Tipton.
First landed France & Flanders, 12th August 1914.
Medal entitlement: 1914 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.
Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.
Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/194508/
Genealogical Data
Birth of Gladwyn Imbert Brooks registered March quarter 1890, at Taunton. Mother's maiden name was Ousley.
1901 Census
290 Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs.
Charles J. Brooks (48, Painter, born Chard, Somerset), his wife Mary (45, born York) and their son Gladwin Brooks (11, born Taunton, Somerset.)
1911 Census
4 Slater Street, Park Estate, Tipton, Staffs.
Charles John Brooks (61, Carpenter at Mond Gas, born Chard, Somerset), his wife Mary Thomasine (54, born York).
1911 Census
Military Service Overseas with the 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, at Jhansi, India
Private Gladwin Brooks, age 21, single, born Taunton, Somerset.
Personal Data
Gladwyn had been born in Somerset, but the Brooks family was resident in Tipton by the time of the 1901 census.
Gladwyn joined the 6th (Territorial) Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment on 6th November 1907 as Private 7630. Gladwyn was 5 feet 2¾ inches tall with a 33½-inch chest, weighed 121 pounds, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair, and was Church of England. He was 17 years 10 months old, and employed as a Moulder for Hawkins in Tipton. His father, Charles John Brooks, and stepmother, Polly, were living at 35 Peel Street, Tipton; his brother Isaac living at 5 Peel Street, Tipton, and brother Bert living in Redditch.
Although he attested with the Worcesters Territorails on 6th November 1907, it is recorded that he "joined Worcs Regiment" on 11th January 1908 becoming a Regular soldier on that date. We know he served in Ireland shortly after enlisting, as he is named in a court case in Dublin where another soldier was accused of stealing a Post Office Savings book belonging to Gladwyn.
After Gladwyn's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £26/11/1d (26 pounds, 11 shillings and 1 penny); this was paid to his father, Charles Brooks, in December 1915. A further sum of 12/3d (12 shillings and 3 pence) was paid to his father in Januaary 1916. His War Gratuity was £6/0/0d (6 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his father in July 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Gladwyn had enlisted in approximately August 1914; we do not know if he was still a serving Regular soldier, or a Reservist instantly recalled to the colours.
No records exist to show that any Dependant's Pension was ever paid in respect of Gladwyn.
Action resulting in his death
The Battle of Loos commenced on 25th September 1915, but the 2nd Worcesters were not to come into action until the second day, the 26th. In the weeks leading up to the battle, the 2nd Worcesters alternated between front line duties, and carrying parties which would have included the gas cylinders to be used for the first time in the impending attack.
After being in reserve from the 8th to 17th September in the Bethune area, the 2nd Worcesters moved back into the front line trenches near to Givenchy, adjacent to the La Bassée canal. The 2nd Worcesters were in the front line on 22nd September when Gladwyn was killed in action, the only man of his battalion to be killed on that day. Gladwyn in buried in the Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy.
Newspaper Cuttings
None.