Edward Brooks
Company Sergeant-Major, 2nd/4th Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
- Register No.
- 127 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Company Sergeant-Major (register: Company Sergeant Major) all Company Sergeant-Majors →
- Unit
- 2nd/4th Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry all Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry VCs →
- Date of action
- 28 April 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 27th June 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 11th April 1883 at Oakley, Buckinghamshire
- Died
- the 26th June 1944 at Oxford
- Memorial / grave
- Rose Hill Cemetery, Oxford
- Medal held by
- the Royal Green Jackets Museum
Digest of citation
On 28th April 1917 at Fayet, near St. Quentin, France, Company Sergeant-Major Brooks, while taking part in a raid on the enemy's trenches, saw that the front wave was being checked by an enemy machine gun. On his own initiative he rushed forward from the second wave, a killed one of the Gunners are with his revolver and bayoneted another. The remainder of the gun crew then made off, leaving, the gun, whereupon the the Company Sergeant-Major turned it on the retreating enemy, after which he carried it back to Allied lines. His courageous action undoubtedly prevented many casualties and greatly added to the success of the operation
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BROOKS, Edward. (reg No. 127).
Company Sergeant-Major 2nd/4th Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
London Gazetted on 27th June 1917.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Royal Green Jackets Museum.
Born on 11th April 1883 at Oakley, Buckinghamshire.
Died on the 26th June 1944 at Oxford.
Memorial at Rose Hill Cemetery, Oxford..
Digest of Citation reads: On 28th April 1917 at Fayet, near St. Quentin, France, Company Sergeant-Major Brooks, while taking part in a raid on the enemy's trenches, saw that the front wave was being checked by an enemy machine gun. On his own initiative he rushed forward from the second wave, a killed one of the Gunners are with his revolver and bayoneted another. The remainder of the gun crew then made off, leaving, the gun, whereupon the the Company Sergeant-Major turned it on the retreating enemy, after which he carried it back to Allied lines. His courageous action undoubtedly prevented many casualties and greatly added to the success of the operation.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Rose Hill Cemetery, Oxford
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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