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War Memorial
Australia

Harold Spencer BROOKS was born in 1892 in Colac, Victoria

His parents were George William BROOKS and Martha Jane JENKINS

The family moved to Cootamundra in NSW at some stage

He enlisted with the 2nd Infantry Battalion on 3rd July, 1916

Unit embarked from Sydney on HMAT Ceramic

Harold was Killed in Action on 9th April, 1917 in France

Buried in British Cemetery, Hermies, France

His brother Stanley BROOKS S/N 5556 - 18th Battalion was also killed in action

OBITUARY - The Cootamundra Herald - 1st May, 1917

THE LATE PRIVATE HAROLD BROOKS

Memorial Service at the Methodist Church.  A touching Obituary

There was a crowded congregation at the Methodist Church on Sunday night... The pulpit was draped with the Union Jack and the Austtralian flag and in the centre of the wreath was the photo of the young Cootamundra hero to whom so many assembled to pay honour

The whole service was appropriate & impressive.  The Rev. Wallace Deane gave a fine address  upon vicarious sacrifice taking as his text from John ?  The good shephered giveth his life for his sheep

The preacher eulogised the many who had bravely gone to the front at the call of duty .  Some stayed behind in order to step into soft billots vacated here.  It was blood money.   The position and comforts thus obtained were stained.   However such people he was glad to say were fewer and fewer.

To the brave ones they said " All honour to them"

Harold was the youngest of five brothers from Cootamundra who enlisted in the AIF. An older brother, Stanley Brooks 18th Battalion, was killed in action three weeks after Harold, at Bullecourt.

Harold died along with many others when Hermies village was seized on the morning of the 9 April 1917, by a surprise attack of the 2nd and 3rd Australian Infantry Battalions.

Another brother, Percy Edward Brooks, had enlisted with Harold and was nearby Harold when he was killed. Percy wrote to home of his sadness at having to bury his brother on the battlefield.

The following article appeared in the Colac Herald during May 1917.

In the Cootamundra Methodist Church recently, the Rev. W. Deane, conducted a memorial service in connection with the death of Private Harold Brooks, formerly of Ondit, near Colac. In the course of his remarks, he said: "Harold Spencer Brooks was born on the 1st August, 1893, in Colac, Victoria. With his parents he came to Cootamundra some 12 years ago. He was the youngest son of the esteemed family. During the whole time of his residence in this district the gallant lad, whose loss we so sincerely mourn, won the respect of all members of the community. He was distinguished by a quiet, sympathetic manner, as well as a capacity for helpfulness on all occasions when his services were required. He was known for his upright character, for his strong sense of duty, for the freedom of his conversation from bad language, and for regular attendance at the House God. During the course of the war his brothers, four in all, enlisted, and went to the front, and Harold was most desirous of going. He therefore applied again and again, but was rejected on the grounds of physical unfitness. He submitted, however, to a severe operation, in order to pass the test, which is an index of the strength and genuineness of his purpose. Finally, he embarked for England, on the 9th of October last year, and from that time until his death he served his King and country faithfully. On the 9th April, exactly six calendar months after his departure from these shores, and on the day of the great British advance in France, he surrendered his brave young life for the cause, 'the country, and the people lie loved."