Pte 57907 David Henry Brooks

• Age: 22
• From: Marylebone,London
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Monday 5th March 1917
• Commemorated at: Avesnes- Le- Comte Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: I.C.8

David Henry Brooks was born in the first quarter of 1895 in Marylebone, London, the son of David Henry Brooks and his wife Rebecca (née Halford). His father, from Oxfordshire, and his mother, born in Islington, married in Hendon 1888 and had seven children. Henry had older siblings George, Lily, Alfred, and Florence, and younger siblings Albert and Violet. He was baptised in St. Mark’s, Marylebone, on 17th January 1895, his parents’ residence given as 99 Granville Road. 

In 1901 the family is living at 99 Granville Road, Willesden. His father, David, is a 43 year old painter, born in Chipping Norton in 1858, his mother. Rebecca, is also 43 years of age, born in Islington in 1858. Henry, as he is listed, is 7 years old, he has six siblings; George is 18 and a painter labourer, Lily is 11, Alfred is 10, Florence is 8, Albert is 3 and Violet is 2.

By 1911 his widowed mother, aged 52, is head of the household at 71 Granville Road, with four children at home.  Henry is 17, a tailor’s porter, Florence Rose, 18, is a general servant, Albert, 13, and Violet, 12, are at school. Two of the seven children have died. 

Henry married Edith Maud Hatcher in the March quarter of 1916 and their son, also David Henry, was born later that year.  Sadly, he died at a few months old.

Henry enlisted at Putney joining the London Divisional Cyclist Company as Private 516. He transferred in December 1916 to the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 57907 and died of wounds at 37th Casualty Clearing Station on 05th March 1917, aged 22. 

Henry now rests at Avesnes Comte Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

The village of Avesnes-le-Comte was for some time the VI Corps headquarters. The 37th and 30th Casualty Clearing Stations were there from April 1916, the 42nd in June 1916, and the 41st in January 1917. The communal cemetery contains 2 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, both made in April 1916. Thereafter, burials were made in the extension, which contains 333 graves, 4 of which are unidentified. Most of these were from the 37th CCS which stayed in the village until July 1917. The Extension also contains 4 Second World War burials. The Extension was designed by Charles Holden.

His widow Edith Maud, living at 75 Carlton Vale, Kilburn, received his Army effects and a War Gratuity of £3-10s.  His mother Rebecca, at 155 Rutledge Avenue, Harlesden applied for his medals and pension.

Edith remarried in 1919, had a son, and died in 1967. 

It is not known when his mother died.

We currently have no further information on David Henry Brooks, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.