EDGAR BROOKS
Image courtesy of Rod
Born: 1888, Chelmondiston, Suffolk.
Died: 6th August 1915; age: 27; KiA.
E.A.D.T. – Thursday, 26th August 1915 – Mrs. Elizabeth Brooks, of 9, Mount Street, St. Peter’s, Ipswich, has received news from the War Office, saying her husband was killed in action in France on the 6th August. He leaves a widow and four children. Mrs. Brooks has also had two brothers killed, and another is a prisoner of war.
Residence: 9, Mount Street, Ipswich.
Enlistment Location: Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.
Date of Entry Therein: 2nd September 1914.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 3/6964
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1914 Star + Clasp.
Grave Reference:
II.B.19.
West-Vlaanderen,
Belgium.
Brother to AMOS BROOKS and WILLIAM BROOKS.
CENSUS
1891 66, Cavendish Street, Ipswich.
Edgar was 3 years old and living with his parents & brothers.
John Tapler Brooks, 35, a Mariner, born Chelmondiston, Suffolk.
Emma Harriet Mallett Brooks (nee Wilding), 35, born Ipswich.
John Brooks, 11, born Chelmondiston.
Sidney Brooks, 9, born Chelmondiston.
Mitchell Brietwiser Brooks, 7, born Chelmondiston.
Bertie Ivor Brooks, 5, born Chelmondiston.
William Brooks, 1, born Chelmondiston.
1901 34, White Elm Street, Ipswich.
Edgar was 13 years old, a Fishmonger’s Errand Boy. He was living with his widowed mother & brothers.
Emma, 45, a Stay Corset worker.
Mitchell, 17, an Engine Marking Machinist.
Bertie, 15, an Engine Drilling Machinist.
William, 11.
Amos Brooks, 9, born Ipswich.
1911 9, Mount Street, Ipswich.
Edgar was 23 years old, a General Labourer. He was married & Head of the Household.
Elizabeth, 22, a Tailoress – employer & a Tailoress for the Asylum Clothing Company.
Edgar, 2.
Edgar’s father, John Tapler Brooks, died by drowning in Oulton Broad on the evening of Thursday, 26th July 1893. The body was found floating on the Broad on Monday, 24th. At the Coffee Pot Café, Oulton Broad, the body was identified by the deceased brother, Edagr Brooks, a mariner, living at Tomline Road, Ipswich, who stated to the Coroner that John Brooks was 37 years of age, and left a widow and family of seven children.
The body of John Tapler Brooks was buried at Section L, Lowestoft Cemetery, Suffolk.
Ipswich Journal – Saturday, 29th July 1893 – AN IPSWICH BARGEMAN DROWNED IN OULTON BROAD – John Tapler Brooks, of 66, Cavendish Street, Ipswich, was drowned on Thursday evening in Oulton Broad. The deceased man, who was 37 years of age, was the skipper of the Ipswich barge Elsie Bertha, belonging to Mr. H. W. Mason, oilcake merchant, of Ipswich, which left there a fortnight back for London, where she shipped a cargo of barley for Messrs. Everett and Sons, of Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft. The barge arrived at Lowestoft on Monday week and proceeded up the river to the Broad, where she moored off Messrs. Everett’s stores. On the Thursday, John Brooks left for the purpose of drawing his freight, and since that evening nothing was seen of him until his body was found floating on the Broad on Monday evening.
The County Coroner Mr. C. W. Chaston, Esq., held an inquest on Tuesday evening, when it appeared from the evidence of James Quantrill, of Holbrook, Suffolk, and mate of the barge, that when he last saw John Brooks on Thursday, he was quite sober. He believed the deceased fell into the Broad in trying to get on board. A fisherman named Cable said he was acquainted with the deceased. They had a drink together in Oulton, and he left him on the road near the railway station when he said he was going aboard. Constable Phillippo said that the pathway in question was a narrow one and dangerous, but it was private property, although it was much used by barge and yachting men. The Jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death by drowning.”
In 1908, Ipswich Edgar married Elizabeth Frances Alcock, born November 1887, Ipswich – daughter of Giles Hale Alcock, a boot and shoe maker – own account, and Maria Alcock (nee Bygrave), of 6, Lady Lane, Ipswich.
Elizabeth and Edgar had four children:
Elizabeth Ellen Alice Alcock Brooks, born November 1905, Ipswich.
Edgar Sidney George Brooks, born October 1908, Ipswich.
Ellen Emma Brooks, born July 1911, Ipswich.
Elsie Bertha Brooks, born June 1914, Ipswich.
Soldiers’ Effects to Elizabeth F. Brooks – widow.
Edgar is also remembered on the war memorial at St. Peter’s Church, Ipswich, and on the handwritten memorial at The Mission Free Church, Curriers Lane, Ipswich.
In January 1915, 9 year old Lizzie Brooks wrote a loving letter to her Father. The letter was found on the body of her Dear Father.
No. 9. Mount St,
Ipswich
Jan 20th-1915
Dear Father,
Just a few lines hoping to find you quite well as it leaves us the same at present.
I hope you will soon be able to come home as we are longing to see you once more.
When uncle Bert came down he gave us two pence each and he took Nellie up to grannie.
Mother has bought us all some new clothes we have all got new boots and stockings so we look nice on Sundays. mother says never mind about herself until you come home Dear Father Mother has had a large photo of us and it looks very nice.
Well Dear Father I dont think I have any more to say now so will close with fondest love and best wishes
I remain your ever loving daughter Lizzie
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from me and mother and the others.
grannie send her best love to you.
roll on the time when you come home dear I should love to see you now good night and god bless you.
Write back to me as soon as you can
Suffolk Regiment, 1st Battalion:
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