George Brooks, died 11th September 1917, aged 23.
Driver 68416, ‘E’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery.

 

Born in Linton, near Marden, George Brooks was working on Smugley Farm, Goudhurst when he joined the army in 1912. Among the very first British troops to arrive in France in August 1914, he saw action at Mons and in the famous retreat. As artillerymen working with the cavalry, his unit was intensely active up to the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915, but was then relatively quiet for two years until the Battle of Arras. Much of George’s time was spent tending to his horses, which he was doing when killed by a chance long-range shell behind the old Loos battlefield; he was buried nearby at Sailly-Labourse. His brother William Charles was killed six months later.

 

 

 

Parish Magazine, St Mary’s, Goudhurst, November 1917
We have to chronicle another man on our Roll of Honour. Driver George Brooks was born and educated at Goudhurst and worked at Smugley until he enlisted in the Artillery. He was in E Battery, Royal Horse Artillery and he was one who brought the first gun into action at the battle of Mons. He met his death from a shell which fell in the lines as he was attending to his horses. He was expected home on leave, and it was when every prepartion was made to welcome him home that the sad news arrived.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Kent & Sussex Courier printed items about George Brooks for three consecutive issues in November 1917. These were picked up by other regional and national newspapers who also reported his death in their columns.

Kent & Sussex Courier 9th November 1917
Our Soldiers
Driver George Brooks born and educated at Goudhurst, worked at Smugly until he enlisted in the artillery. He was in “E” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery and he was one who brought the first gun into action at the Battle of Mons. He was killed by a shell which fell in the lines as he was attending to his horses. He was expected home on leave and it was when every preparation was made to welcome him home that the sad news arrived.

Kent & Sussex Courier 16th November 1917
Death of Mons Hero
It is with great regret we observe the death of Driver George Brooks of “E” Battery, R.H.A., who has been killed by a shell which dropped in the lines while he was in the act of attending to his horses. Driver Brooks had served since the opening of the war and took the first gun into action at Mons.

Kent & Sussex Courier 23rd November 1917
Driver George Brooks
We recorded last week the death of one of the Mons heroes. Driver George Brooks, son of Mr and Mrs Brooks of Smugley, Goudhurst was born and educated at Goudhurst and worked on Smugley Farm until he enlisted in the Artillery. He was in “E” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery and he was one of the “boys” who helped to bring the first gun into action at the Battle of Mons. He met his death from a shell which fell in the lines as he was attending to his horses. He wrote home on the same day that he was killed saying he was expecting leave and should be at Goudhurst on the 17th of September : but after every preparation had been made to welcome him, his friends received a letter from his officer on the 19th stating that he had been killed on the 11th of September. He was 23 years of age and he had two brothers in France, Charles and Harry. The photo was taken on his last leave from France. Brooks had intimated to his relatives that he felt quite sure the enemy would get him and that he should not return to them.