BROOKS, Hector Ernest
| Service Number: | 3921 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 12th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 8 May 1894 |
| Home Town: | Hobart, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Hobart Central State School, Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Glenorchy, Tasmania, Australia, 19 September 1984, aged 90 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Hobart Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3921, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 3921, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: RMS Orontes embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 24 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 3921, 12th Infantry Battalion, RMS Orontes, Melbourne | |
| 18 Nov 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 12th Infantry Battalion |
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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Hector Brooks of Hobart, Tasmania, enlisted when he was 21 years of age. He served with the 12th Battalion and his brother, 3920 Pte Leslie John Brooks, who joined the same unit, was killed in action at Pozieres on 19-22 August 1916. They were the sons of David and Elizabeth Brooks of Hobart, Tasmania.
During 1918, Hector was awarded a Military Medal, his recommendation stating, 'During operations at Proyart on 25 August, 1918, Lance Corporal Brooks, when acting as a linesman from Company Headquarters to Battalion Headquarters, displayed great bravery. The wires were frequently cut by shell fire and this N.C.O. showing an utter disregard of danger repaired them and kept up communication despite the heavy fire.'
Hector rose to the rank of Sergeant later in 1918 and returned to Australia during late 1919.
Hector was a promising junior footballer prior to the war and went on with it after the war, although he was almost 26 years of age when he resumed playing for the North Hobart Football Club. The Hobart News reported during 1924, under the heading, NORTH HOBART'S PLUCKY ROVER, SERGT. HECTOR BROOKS, M.M.
‘North Hobart footballers have always been famed for their tenacity, in many a hard-fought game the determination of the Red-Legs has pulled them through. Among those at present playing in the red and blue uniform is one who’s bulldog courage and determined spirit have won the universal admiration of League football followers. This is Hector Brooks, the diminutive rover, who is probably the smallest man playing big football in Tasmania today.
He stands at 5 foot two inches. In Tasmania today there are some accomplished rovers, Gorringe, Odgers, Maddocks, and Hec. Smith, with the exception of the first named, in my opinion they can all take off their hats to Hector Brooks…’
Before going away to war Hector was chosen as captain of the 12th Battalion football team. In 1918 he played in the 1st Division combined team which won a test against the remaining five divisions of the AIF. He was one of only two Tasmanians in the team. Though France and Flanders Brooks survived fighting and playing football and won through in the end without a scratch. He was reported to have said, “I was too little, they missed me every time.” Brooks was 5 foot three inches on his attestation form and about 61 kilograms in today’s weight measure.
In August 2000, Hector Brooks was included in the official North Hobart ‘Team of the Twentieth Century.'
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