Spr
Walter Brookes

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortejaar:
1890
Geboorteplaats:
Chinley, Derbyshire, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Algemene Informatie

Beroep:
Onderhoudsman Stoomlocomotief

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Australië
Strijdmacht:
Australian Imperial Force
Rang:
Sapper
Service nummer:
395
Dienstneming datum:
08/03/1915
Dienstneming plaats:
Liverpool, New South Wales, Australië
Eenheden:
 —  Australian Divisional Signal Company, 2nd Coy.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
08/10/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Smyth Camp, België
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
27

Begraafplaats

Poperinghe New Military Cemetery
Plot: II
Rij: J
Graf: 18

Onderscheidingen en medailles 2

British War Medal
Medaille
Victory Medal
Medaille

Points of interest 2

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Dienstneming plaats

Mijn verhaal

Walter Brookes was born in 1890 in Chinley, Derbyshire. He was the first child of Betsy and George Brookes. In 1910 Walter emigrated to Australia, where he worked as a railway engine cleaner. In March 1915 he volunteered for the Australian Imperial Force. On 26 October 1916 while already in Europe he married Alice Louisa Slater in Stockport, Cheshire, near the town where he was born. Two days later Walter was transferred from the 17th Battalion Australian Infantry to the Australian Engineers, Signal Company of the 2nd Australian Division.

Mid-September 1917 the 2nd Australian Division moved to Flanders to join the allied offensive near Ypres. During what would later be known as the Battle of Passchendaele the 2nd Division Signal Company, mainly looked after the internal communication of the Division.

According to his Red Cross Wounded and Missing file, Walter was the batman of Lieutenant Fraser, who maintained communication with the 5th Australian Brigade Royal Field Artillery of the Division. On Monday 8 October 1917 they were possibly both near the Company’s billets at Smyth Camp, north of the village of Dikkebus, when a bomb of a German aeroplane or a shell exploded nearby. Walter, 27-years old, was killed outright, while Lieutenant Fraser was wounded. Walter was buried on the nearby Poperinghe New Military Cemetery.

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Bronnen 6

AIF-project
https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/search
Gebruikte bronnen
Ancestry
https://www.ancestry.com/
Verdere verwijzing
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/139083/brookes,-walter/
Gebruikte bronnen
Service Record
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx
Gebruikte bronnen
The Long, Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/
Gebruikte bronnen
War Diary Australian Divisional Signal Company, 2nd Coy.
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583
Gebruikte bronnen