BROOKS, Norman Leonard
| Service Number: | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 January 1916, Place of enlistment - Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Arwakurra, near Pekina South Australia, 1892 |
| Home Town: | Arwakurra, Mount Remarkable, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Arwakurra Public School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 11 June 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Messines Ridge British Cemetery Plot I, Row B, Grave 5, Messines Ridge British Cemetery, Messines, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Booleroo Centre WW1 Roll of Honour, Booleroo Centre War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2026, Place of enlistment - Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Jul 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2026, Embarked on HMAT 'A48' Seang Bee from Adelaide | |
| 28 Jan 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| 11 Jun 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2026, 50th Infantry Battalion, Killed in action at Messines, Belgium |
from family history information
WW1 War records show: Rank Private [Pte] Service Number 2026 Unit 50th Bn Australian Inf Ship Name HMAT Seang Bee Ship number A48 Date of embarkation 13 July 1916 Place of embarkation Adelaide Service Army Conflict 1914-1918 Date of Death 11 June 1917 Cause of Death Killed in action Cemetery or Memorial Details BELGIUM 166 Messines Ridge British Cemetery Place Of Enlistment Booleroo Centre, SA Native place Arwakurra SA War Grave Register Notes: BROOKS, Pte. Norman Leonard, 2026. 50th Bn. Australian Inf. Killed in action 11th June, 1917. Age 26. Son of Margaret Brooks, of 17, Gurney Rd., Rose Parks, Adelaide, South Australia, and the late William Brooks. Native of Arwakurra, South Australia. I. B. 5.
Source AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army
Location on the Roll of Honour: Norman Leonard Brooks's name is located at panel 150 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial.
Submitted 27 April 2015 by Marcelle Edwards
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From On This Day - Australian Military History
#OTD: We Remember Private Norman Brooks
Today we pause to remember the life and service of 2026 Private Norman Leonard Brooks, who was killed in action on the 11th of June 1917 whilst fighting at Messines.
Originally from Boolerro Centre, South Australia, Norman worked as a farmer before enlisting in the 50th Battalion on the 19th of January 1916 at the age of 24. He embarked for overseas with the 3rd Reinforcements from Adelaide on 13 July 1916 aboard HMAT Seang Bee. Following further training in England, he joined the 50th Battalion in France on 28 January 1917.
Six months later, while serving in Belgium, Pte Brooks was killed in action at Messines on 11 June 1917 and buried in the Messines Ridge British Cemetery, Belgium.
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