Dec 24, 1896

Born in Toronto, Ontario to Robert J. and Isabella (nee Dublin) Brooks

Jun 22, 1915

Attested into the 59^th Battalion CEF in Picton, Ontario

Ø  Number 454032

Ø  Next of kin given as R.J. Brooks, father, 37 Lippincott St., Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

o   Later noted as Teamster

Ø  No previous miliary experience given

Ø  Religion given as Baptist

Ø  Posted to the battalion’s 2^nd Reinforcing Draft

On attesting stated his birth year was 1895, not his actual birth year of 1896

The battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area

Aug 6, 1915

Sentenced to 120 hours detention and forfeited 2 days pay for an unrecorded offence

This was followed by an additional 48 hours detention

Oct 9, 1915

Sentenced to 120 hours detention and for an unrecorded offence

Nov 13, 1915

The 2nd Reinforcing Draft embarked the SS Missanabie in Montreal, Quebec

Nov 23, 1915

Disembarked in Plymouth, England and the draft proceeded to the West Sandling Camp where the men were absorbed into the 39th Reserve Battalion to continue training

Jan 8, 1916

Awarded 28 days deferred pay by Officer Commanding

Jan 10, 1916

Forfeited 5 days pay for being absent

Jan 14, 1916

Admitted to the Barnwell Military Hospital in Cambridge with a diagnosis that reads VDS (Venereal Disease Syphilis)

Mar 16, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital

Apr 23, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Apr 24, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and Taken On Strength the 21^st Battalion

May 15, 1916

After leaving the base depot, Private Brooks joined the 21^st Battalion resting in the B Camp near La Clytte, Belgium and was posted to “A” Company

Jul 14, 1916

Attached to the 1^st Canadian Tunnelling Company in La Clytte, Belgium for duty

Nov 11, 1916

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment No. 1 and forfeited 2 days’ pay for being absent from November 9 to November 10

Dec 14, 1916

Admitted to the Royal Army Medical Corps 138^th Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Influenza

Dec 15, 1916

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment and forfeited 6 days’ pay for being absent from December 8 to 13.

Dec 18, 1916

Ceased to be attached to the tunnelling company on being admitted to hospital

Dec 20, 1916

Discharged from the field ambulance and rejoined the 21^st Battalion resting in Calonne, France

Jan 17, 1917

During the 21^st Battalion’s Calonne Trench Raid, Private Brooks was wounded in his back and evacuated to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid before being transported to the No. 22 Casualty Clearing Station

Jan 21, 1917

Transferred to the No. 4 General Hospital in Camiers, France

Jan 27, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Dieppe

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Town Hall Auxiliary Aid Hospital in Waltham Abbey

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital

Mar 3, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom

Mar 4, 1917

Granted permission to marry and his next of kin was changed to Mrs. Mabel Brooks, 42 Haddon Road, Sutton, Surrey, England

Mar 10, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Apr 17, 1917

Discharged from hospital and reported to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot in Seaford

Granted 10 days leave

Apr 27, 1917

Transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Jun 12, 1917

Sentenced to 28 days Detention

Jun 15, 1917

Detention sentence was remitted on condition he proceed to the front.

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Reported to be absent while in transit to Folkestone

Jun 23, 1917

Arrested by Military Police in London, England

Jul 14, 1917

Tried by District Court Martial in Seaford and charged with:

Deserting His Majesty’s Services June 15, 1917 until apprehended by Canadian Military Police June 23, 1917 in London, England

He entered a plea of Not Guilty.

He gave testimony that while proceeding to Folkstone to proceed to the 21^st Battalion in France, he got drunk and missed a connecting train.  He then met a friend and continued to drink until he was arrested.

He was found Guilty and sentenced to 18 months Detention.  This sentence was reduced by 6 months by the General Officer Commanding

Part of his testimony during the Court Martial below gives some insight into
 his treatment while in the military that may, or may not have
contributed to his delinquent behavior

Aug 14, 1917

Admitted to the Canadian Military Hospital in Etchinghill with a diagnosis that reads VDG (Venereal Disease Gonorrhea)

Sep 27, 1917

Discharged to detention from hospital

Oct 1, 1917

Admitted to the St. Albans Detention Barracks

Nov 14, 1917

Released from detention on condition of proceeding to the front

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Arrived at the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France and Taken On Strength the 21^st Battalion

Nov 17, 1917

After leaving the base depot, he joined the CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Calonne Ricouart, France

Nov 24, 1917

After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private Brooks joined the 21^st Battalion in the support lines east of Vimy Ridge

Jan 19, 1918

Attached to the 1^st Canadian Tunnelling Company for duty.  On arrival with the unit, he was admitted to the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Impetigo.  He was transferred the same day to the No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance

Jan 23, 1918

Reported to be absent

Jan 24, 1918

Reported back to the field ambulance from being absent

Jan 26, 1918

Discharged from the field ambulance and rejoined the 1^st Canadian Tunnelling Company

Jan 30, 1918

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion in billets in Camblain L’Abbe, France from the tunnelling company

Jan 31, 1918

Sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment No. 1 and forfeited 2 days’ pay for his absence

Feb 21, 1918

Declared to be absent at 9:30 pm

Feb 26, 1918

Reported for duty at 4:40 pm

Mar 15, 1918

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment No. 1 and forfeited 6 day’s pay for being Absent Without Leave from February 21, 1918 until February 26, 1918

Apr 22, 1918

While in the support trench near Neuville Vitasse, France, Private Brooks was wounded by shrapnel in his right arm and evacuated to the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transported to the nearby casualty clearing station

Apr 23, 1918

Transferred to the No. 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital in Doullens, France, then transferred the same day to the Base Hospital

Apr 24, 1918

Transferred to the No. 1 Canadian General Hospital in Etaples, France

Apr 28, 1918

Transferred to the No. 6 Convalescent Depot

Apr 29, 1918

Transferred to the No. 14 Convalescent Depot in Trouville, France

Jun 10, 1918

Admitted to the No. 73 General Hospital with a sprained right ankle

Jun 14, 1918

Transferred to the No. 14 Convalescent Depot in Trouville

Jun 24, 1918

Sentenced to forfeit 10 day’s pay for Disorderly Conduct by asking his superior officer to produce their pass when he had no right to do so

Jun 27, 1918

Discharged from hospital care and reported to the Canadian Infantry Base Depot in Etaples, France

Jul 6, 1918

Sentenced to 7 days Field Punishment No. 2 and forfeited 3 day’s pay for being Absent Without Leave from July 3 to July 5, 1918

Jul 12, 1918

Absent Without Leave

Aug 4, 1918

Declared by a Court of Inquiry to be a Deserter

Aug 6, 1918

Placed under arrest in Paris for being Absent Without Leave

Aug 8, 1918

Admitted to the No. 51 General Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Venereal Disease Gonorrhea

Sep 28, 1918

Declared to be absent from the hospital

Oct 7, 1918

Arrested in Paris by military police and returned to the hospital

Oct 13, 1918

Escaped custody

Oct 18, 1918

Arrested by military police in Paris and returned to the hospital

Oct 24, 1918

Discharged from hospital as a prisoner

Oct 26, 1918

Arrived at the CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France as a prisoner

Oct 31, 1918

Tried by Field General Court Martial in Etaples, France charged with

1-    AWL July 12, 1918 until arrested in Paris August 6, 1918

2-    When in arrest, escaping September 28, 1918 and remaining absent until arrested in Paris October 7, 1918

3-    When in arrest escaping October 13, 1918 and remaining absent until arrested in Paris October 18, 1918

A plea of Guilty was entered and he was sentenced to 1 year Detention in Hard Labour and subsequently entered the No. 1 Military Prison near Rouen, France

Nov 12, 1918

Admitted to the No. 51 General Hospital in Etaples  for treatment of his Venereal Disease Gonorrhea

Nov 20, 1918

Discharged from hospital and admitted to the No. 2 Military Prison

Jan 13, 1919

Admitted to the No. 10 General Hospital in Rouen for treatment of the previous wound to his back

Jan 27, 1919

Discharged from hospital and returned to the No. 1 Military Prison

May 1, 1919

Transferred to the Shepton Mallett Prison

May 27, 1919

6 months of the 18 month detention sentence was remitted

Jun 12, 1919

Moved from the Shepton Mallett Prison to Wandsworth Detention Barracks, London, England

Jun 26, 1919

Released from the Wandsworth Detention Barracks to join the Special Detention Pool in Witley

Jul 15, 1919

The remainder of his detention sentence was remitted on proceeding to Canada

Embarked the SS Regina in Liverpool

Jul 23, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Jul 30, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 385203

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 35 Grange Ave., Toronto, Ontario

He is noted as being discharged to the care of the ISC (Injured Soldiers Commission)

Following his discharge, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 35 Grange Ave., Toronto, Ontario

Oct 10, 1919

Wife Mable embarked the SS Pretorian in Avonmouth

Oct 21, 1919

Disembarked in Quebec City, Quebec and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario to join her husband

Jan 2, 1956

Frederick George Brooks died while a patient of the Sunnybrook Veteran’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario