2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Sidney Walter Charles Brookes was born in Newent, Gloucestershire in 1895 and baptised in Hartpury on 2 June 1895. He was the eldest son of Francis George Brookes and Louisa (née Bendall) of Broad Street Hartpury, previously of Woolridge, Gloucester.
According to the 1911 Census, Francis and Louisa stated that they had 13 children ‘within the marriage’ but I have only been able to identify 10, namely Alice Eliza Brookes (1883), Mary Ann Brookes (1885), Rowena Elizabeth Brookes (1886), Ellen (known also as Nelly) Brookes (1889); Florence Beatrice Brookes (1891); Sidney (1895); Jessie Brookes (1896); Leonard William Arthur Brookes (1900); Albert Reginald James Brookes (1901); and Millicent Doris Brookes (1904) who died in 1905.
However, in the 1881 Census Louisa is living with her parents in Maisemore, Gloucester together with Francis Brookes (a lodger) and Louisa’s illegitimate children Agnes Maria Brookes Bendall (born 1879), Fanny Elizabeth Bendall (1881), thought possibly to have been fathered by Francis and who would have been legitimised by their parents’ marriage on 30 April 1881. It is worth noting that when Agnes got married, she named her father as Francis Brookes.
Sidney’s father, who was born and brought up in Hartpury, was a Hay Trusser and Labourer, and in 1911 Sidney was working as a Farm Hand in Churcham, about 11 miles from the family home in Ashleworth. His mother was the daughter of William and Eliza Bendall of Maisemore, who later moved to Hartpury.
Sidney enlisted with the 2nd Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment on 7 January 1915, and was sent to France in March of that year. As a result of gas warfare by the Germans he was ‘gassed’ two months later on 2 May 1915 and returned home.
His Pension Record Card (PRC) states he was serving as a Private in the 3rd Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment. It is possible he was transferred to this Reserve Battalion on his repatriation to UK after the gassing incident.
With the exception of the PRC there appears to be no further service records for Sidney, which may indicate they were part of the ‘ burnt documents’ (WO 363) damaged or lost during the WW2 bombing of London in September 1940.
Sidney died, aged 23 years, on 28 November 1918 at Preston Hall VAD Hospital, Aylesford, Kent, and war gratuity was granted to his mother Louisa. Preston Hall was taken over by the military in 1915 to be used as a Military Hospital for wounded servicemen, particularly gassed soldiers and those suffering from tuberculosis at some time during WW1. It is now the site of the Royal British Legion Village, Aylesford.
He is buried in the south-east corner of the churchyard at Hartpury Methodist Church, formerly the Wesleyan Chapel). His parents, brother and sister-in-law are also buried in the cemetery, Francis (father) in 1929, Louisa (mother) in 1945, Albert (brother) in 1986, and Albert’s wife Elizabeth May in 1997.
The Gloucester Journal of 14 December 1918 records that a memorial service for him was held in the Chapel on the evening of Sunday, 8 December.
Sidney is commemorated on the Hartpury War Memorial, and on a plaque inside Hartpury Parish Church.
Of the 125 men of Hartpury who served in the Great War, he was one of 14 who lost their lives.
Researched by Baden Russell October 2020