Main CPGW Record
Surname: BROOKS
Forename(s): Leslie Walter
Place of Birth: Birmingham, Warwickshire
Service No: ---
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment / Corps / Service: Lincolnshire Regiment
Battalion / Unit: 2nd Battalion
Division: 8th Division
Age: ---
Date of Death: 1915-09-25
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Panel 3 and 4.
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial(s): Not Listed (View Names Not Listed on a Local War Memorial)
Additional Information:
Leslie Walter Brooks was the son of John Boultbee and Alice Jane Brooks, née Mason. John was born at Hinckley, Leicestershire and Alice at Aston, Birmingham, Warwickshire.
1901 Stoke Prior, Worcestershire Census: Finstal House, Grimley Lane - Leslie W. Brooks, aged 9 years, born Birmingham, Warwickshire, son of John B. and Alice J. Brooks.
1911 Uppingham, Rutland Census: West Bank - Leslie Walter Brooks, aged 19 years, born Birmingham, Warwickshire. Boarder. [Uppingham School.]
Leslie was married to Blanche Ann Birley in 1914.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Lieut Leslie Walter Brooks, 4th W. York., att[ached] Linc. R. Theatre of War first served in: France. Date of entry therein: –.5.15. Correspondence: Mrs B.A. Brooks applies for her husband's medals, 27.10.20. Address 1: 17, York Place, Harrogate. Address 2: Throstle Nest, Thornton-in-Craven near Skipton, Yorks.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Lieut L. W. Brooks, West Yorkshire Regiment. K. in. A. 25.9.15.
Record of Officers' Effects: Lieut L. Brooks, 4 West Yorks att Lincoln. Date and Place of Death: Killed in action 25.9.15. To whom Issued: £88 4s. 6d.to Exors. - Mrs Blanche Ann Brooks and Wilfred Mason Brooks Esq. £2 14s. 3d. as above.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) for Leslie not found.
Leslie is commemorated on the war memorial of Clare College, Cambridge.
See also: 'Earby in the First World War' by Stephanie Carter (2014).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record: ---
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Lieutenant Leslie Walter BROOKS
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Lincolnshire Regiment
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 8th Division
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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
'Craven Herald' (20 November 1914)
Blanche Ann Birley, the wife of Lieutenant Leslie Walter Brooks
ROLL CALL OF THE SKIPTON DIVISION LIBERAL & CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATIONS, August 4th 1914 - August 4th 1916
Entry on Page 13
St Mary's Churchyard, Thornton-in-Craven
Family gravestone
St Mary's Churchyard, Thornton-in-Craven
Family gravestone - detail of memorial inscription
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
20 November 1914
EARBY - MILITARY WEDDING: Lieut. Brooks - Miss Birley
The marriage took place at All Saints' Church, Falmouth, on Tuesday, of Second Lieutenant Leslie Brooks, of the 4th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, now stationed at St. Anthony, Falmouth, son of Mr. John Boultbee Brooks, of Finstall Park, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, to Miss Blanche Birley, elder daughter of Mr. A. J. Birley, J.P., of Throstle Nest, Thornton-in Craven, and Chairman of the Earby Urban District Council.
The bride looked very beautiful as she walked up the carpeted aisle, leaning on the arm of her father, preceded by the clergy and choir. She wore a dress of white charmeuse, over a skirt of Brussels lace, with a court train of shell pink, caught up in one corner with orange blossom and white heather. She also wore a Brussels lace veil, with a wreath of orange blossom; and carried a 1ovely bower bouquet, composed of lilies of the valley, myrtle, white heather and orange blossom, the gift of the bridegroom.
The bridesmaids were the Misses Betty Birley, sister of the bride, and Ethel Brooks, sister of the bridegroom. They were daintily attired in white crepe-de-chine with black velvet hats trimmed with shell pink feathers. Both carried choice bouquets of pink carnations, and wore gold, diamond and sapphire pendants, the gifts of the bridegroom.
Mrs. Birley, mother of the bride, was gowned in cerise chiffon velvet, trimmed with skunk, with black picture hat also trimmed with skunk. Mrs. Brooks, mother of the bridegroom, was attired in Wisteria blue silk, and sables and a black velvet hat trimmed with shaded blue feathers. The bridegroom was dressed in khaki uniform.
The bride was given away by her father, and Mr. Harold Brooks, of London, cousin of the bridegroom, carried out the duties of groomsman.
The Rev. Noel Patterson, of Bromsgrove, officiated, the Rev. H. M.S. Collier (Falmouth), also taking, part. The service was fully choral. As the guests were assembling the organist (Miss Cooper) played the bridal music from 'Lohengrin.' The hymns 'The voice that breathed o'er Eden' and. ' O perfect love' were sung, and at the conclusion of the ceremony the newly married couple left the church amid the familiar strains of Mendelssohn's 'Wedding March.'
A reception was afterwards held at the Falmouth Hotel. Later Lieutenant and Mrs. Brooks left for their honeymoon, the bride's travelling costume consisting of a stone grey cloth coat and skirt, oriental vest with nigger brown hat trimmed with feathers of the same shade.
The bride's gift to the bridegroom was a diamond and pearl brooch and ruby and diamond ring. Lieutenant and Mrs. Brooks were the recipients of a large number of magnificent presents.
08 October 1915
BROOKS - Killed in action in France, on the 25th September, Leslie Brooks, Lieutenant, West Yorkshire Regiment, attached Lincolnshire Regiment, youngest and dearly loved son of Mr. and Mrs. John Boultbee Brooks, of Finstall Park, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, and beloved husband of Blanche Brooks (née Birley), of Thornton-in-Craven, Yorkshire, aged 23 years.
08 October 1915
LIEUT. LESLIE BROOKS
Son-in-law of Mr. A. J. Birley, J.P., Throstle Nest, Thornton-in-Craven.
We regret to state that Lieut. Leslie Brooks, youngest son of Mr. J. B. Brooks, of Finstall, Bromsgrove, who married November 14th last, Blanche, elder daughter of Mr. A. J. Birley, J.P., of Throstle Nest, Thornton-in-Craven, chairman of the Earby Urban District Council, was killed in action in France on Sept. 25th last. Lieut. Col. Fitzcox, in conveying the sad news, says:- "Lieut. Brooks fell whilst gallantly leading his men in the charge; he was very popular, and the Army has lost a good soldier."
Lieut. Brooks was educated at Uppingham, and Clare College, Cambridge. He joined the 4th West Yorks. Special Reserve on the outbreak of war; was attached to the 2nd Lincolnshires in May last, and then he went to the front.
The sympathy of the family's large circle of friends will go out to the bereaved wife and her parents at Throstle Nest.
07 January 1916
BIRTHS
BROOKS - January 1, at Throstle Nest, Thornton-in-Craven, the wife (née Blanche Birley) of Leslie Brooks, Lieutenant, 4th West Yorkshire Regiment, killed in France, September 25, 1915, of a daughter.
04 July 1919
PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' - CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS
LIEUTENANT L. BROOKS
2nd Lincolnshire Regiment, son of Mr. J. B. Brooks, Finstall, Bromsgrove, son-in-law of Mr. A. J. Birley, J.P., Throstle Nest, Thornton. Killed in action September 25th, 1915.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
20 November 1914
BROOKS-BIRLEY - At All Saints' Church, Falmouth, on November 17th, by the Rev. Noel Patterson, of Bromsgrove, assisted by the Rev. H.M.S. Collier, of Falmouth, Second-Lieutenant Leslie Brooks, of the 4th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, son of John Boultbee Brooks, of Finstall park, Bromsgrove, to Blanche, elder daughter of A.J. Birley, of Throstle Nest, Thornton-in-Craven, Yorkshire.
20 November 1914
EARBY NEWS - Marriage of Miss Birley
The marriage took place at All Saints' Church, Falmouth, on Tuesday, of Second Lieutenant Leslie Brooks, of the 4th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, now stationed at St. Anthony, Falmouth, son of Mr. John Boultbee Brooks, of Finstall Park, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, to Miss Blanche Birley, elder daughter of Mr. A. J. Birley, of Throstle Nest, Thornton-in-Craven.
The bride looked very beautiful as she walked up the carpeted aisle, leaning on the arm of her father, preceded by the clergy and choir. She wore a dress of white charmeuse, over a skirt of Brussels lace with a court train of shell pink, caught up in one corner with orange blossom and white heather. She also wore a Brussels lace veil, with a wreath of orange blossom, and carried a lovely shower bouquet, composed of lilies of the valley, myrtle, white heather and orange blossom, the gift of the bridegroom.
The bridesmaids were the Misses Betty Birley, sister of the bride, and Ethel Brooks, sister of the bridegroom. They were daintily attired in white crepe-de-chine, with black velvet hats trimmed with shell pink feathers. Both carried choice bouquets of pink carnations, and wore gold, diamond and sapphire pendants, the gifts of the bridegroom.
Mrs. Birley, mother of the bride, was gowned in cerise chiffon velvet, trimmed with skunk, with black picture hat also trimmed with skunk. Mrs. Brooks, mother of the bridegroom, was attired in wisteria blue silk, and sables, and a black velvet hat trimmed with shaded blue feathers. The bridegroom was dressed in service uniform.
The bride was given away by her father, and Mr. Harold Brooks, of London, cousin of the bridegroom, carried out the duties of groomsman.
Rev. Noel Patterson, of Bromsgrove, officiated. Rev. H. M. S. Collier (Falmouth), also taking part. The service was fully choral. As the guests were assembling the organist (Miss Cooper) played the bridal music from 'Lohengrin'. The hymns 'The voice that breathed o'er Eden' and 'O, perfect love' were sung, and at the conclusion of the ceremony the newly married couple left the church amid the familiar strains of Mendelssohn's 'Wedding March'.
A reception was afterwards held at the Falmouth Hotel. Later Lieutenant and Mrs. Brooks left for their honeymoon, the bride's travelling costume consisting of a stone grey cloth coat and skirt, oriental vest with nigger brown hat trimmed with feathers of the same shade.
The bridegroom's gift to the bride was a diamond and pearl brooch and ruby and diamond ring. Lieutenant and Mrs. Brooks were the recipients of a large number of magnificent presents.
08 October 1915
EARBY FATHER-IN-LAW'S LOSS
Lieut. Leslie Brooks, West Yorkshire Regiment, attached Lincolnshire Regiment, whose death in action is announced, married on November 17 last year, Blanche, elder daughter of Mr. Arthur L. Birley, of Thornton-in-Craven. Twenty-three years old, he was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Boultbee Brooks, of Finstall Park, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
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