Dedicated to the memory of all the men and women of the Bridgnorth area who died during the two World Wars.
Thomas Rowley Brooks was born at Hopstone in 1894 and was baptised at Claverley Church on 13th June 1894. He was the son of George Brooks, a farm labourer, and his wife, Emma. The family lived at Hopstone.
By 1901 the family had fallen on hard times and had broken up. George was a pauper inmate in the Bridgnorth Workhouse, Emma was living as a widow at Bylet Cottages, Bridgnorth and Thomas was boarding with an elderly widow and her unmarried daughter in Griffiths Green, Claverley. Ten years later, Thomas (now 16) was still boarding with the same family and was working as a gardener.
Thomas served with the 14th Battalion The Gloucester Regiment. He was killed in action on 13th July, 1917 while attached to the 105th Trench Mortar Battery. He is buried in Villers-Faucon Communal Cemetery.
Private Thomas Brookes, 32798, Gloucester Regiment, was awarded the Victory and British Medals.
This memorial has mostly been compiled from official sources. It would be good to be able to expand it with more personal material - memories, stories, photos, etc. If you have any suitable material or any corrections please contact Greg. For news of updates follow @BridgnorthHeros on Twitter.