Home

Plaques awarded,
with biographies

Who qualifies?

Making a proposal

Funding & Ceremonies

Oxfordshire Blue
Plaques Board

 

New plaques in 2023:

• Sir Patrick
     Abercrombie

• Philippa Foot

• Sir Ludwig Guttmann

• Sir Leslie Kirkley

• Dame Iris Murdoch

• Roy Jenkins &
     Dame Jennifer Jenkins

Edward Brooks was born in Oakley, Buckinghamshire, one of thirteen children to Thomas Brooks, a farm labourer, and his wife Selina (née Siviter). At thirteen he left home to work at Huntley and Palmer in Reading. When only sixteen he attempted to serve in the Second Boer War. In 1902 he succeeded in joining the Grenadier Guards and was on duty outside Buckingham Palace. In 1905 he transferred to the army reserve.

In 1910 he married Elsie May, daughter of Elijah Danbury, a stonemason, and his wife Sarah, and settled in Highfield, living at first in New High Street, then Gardiner Street, and finally Windsor Street. He worked as a builder for Knowles & Son, and was one of the best shots in the Headington Miniature Rifle Club. On 29 October 1914 he enlisted in the 2/4th Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He was promoted to Sergeant in May 1915, and to Company Sergeant Major in July 1916.

He received the VC from the King on 18 July 1917. On returning to Oxford he was welcomed by the Mayor and Corporation at Oxford Station and driven to Headington in a carriage lent by Mrs Morrell of Headington Hill Hall, preceded by the Headington Silver Band. Cheering crowds lined the whole route. At the Manor House he was presented with a framed address and a public collection totalling £108. Furniture was also donated for the house. At Oakley he was presented with a gold watch. He returned to France within days but by the end of 1917 he was out of action with rheumatism and spent some time in the 3rd Southern General Hospital housed in the Examination Schools and University College during the war.

For the rest of his life Edward Brooks worked at the Morris car factory, and the photograph below shows him meeting the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VIII) there.

 

Edward and Elsie had five children —Doris, Harold, Stephen, Nora, and Barbara — and lived at 16 Windsor Street (right) 1915–1930, and later at 42 Morrell Avenue.

He is buried in Rose Hill cemetery. In 2009 the TA Barracks in Abingdon was named in his honour. On 28 April 2017 a VC stone was unveiled for him at the Oakley War Memorial as part of the national commemoration of all VC recipients during the four centenary years of WW1.

 

 

Source: detailed narrative on www.headington.org.uk; primary sources cited there.

The was unveiled at 16 Windsor Street, Headington, on 29 July 2017. The speaker was Brigadier Nigel Mogg DL, Chairman of the Darell-Brown Robin Trust (the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry). In attendance were Cllr Jean Fooks (Lord Mayor of Oxford), Mr Keith Brooks and many other descendants, and regimental representatives of the Oxford & Bucks LI Committee, the Royal Green Jackets Association, and 7 Rifles officers with buglers from the Edward Brooks Barracks.

• Oxford Mail, 29 July 2017: “One of Oxfordshire's greatest war veterans Edward Brooks honoured 100 years on from triumphant Headington homecoming”
• Tribute given by Brigadier Nigel Mogg at the ceremony (PDF)

Pictures taken at unveiling ceremony:

• Introduction: Professor Robert Evans, Chairman of the Oxfordshire Blue Plaques Board, with Edward Brooks's grandson Keith Brooks (left) and Brigadier Nigel Mogg (right)
• The Last Post
• Members of the Brooks family with Oxford Lord Mayor Jean Fooks