BROOKES, Arnold D

Arnold Brookes was born in Lye but by 1914 was living with his parents at 11 Bowling Green Road, Stourbridge. He volunteered for the Warwicks, joined the 16th (Service) Battalion, known as the 'Third Birmingham City Battalion' and was posted to No. 1 Platoon in A Company. After training in Yorkshire the battalion crossed to France in November 1915 and joined the 5th Division in a quiet area on the Somme near Albert. There was, however, much enemy shelling and Private Arnold Brookes was killed in action on the 15th January 1916. He was 20 years of age and is buried at Citadel New Military Cemetery, Fricourt (III C 8) and commemorated on the Stourbridge Memorial and on the Enville St. Methodist church Memorial under the name of 'Brooks'.