Main CPGW Record
Surname: BROOKES
Forename(s): Ronald Baines
Place of Birth: Ingleton, Yorkshire
Service No: ---
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
Regiment / Corps / Service: Royal Flying Corps
Battalion / Unit: 55th Squadron
Division: ---
Age: 22
Date of Death: 1918-03-13
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: V. 12.
CWGC Cemetery: NEUF-BRISACH COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: INGLETON, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Ronald Baines Brookes was the son of John and Mary Brookes, née Baines. John was born at Leamington, Warwickshire and Mary at Ingleton, Yorkshire.
1901 Ingleton, Yorkshire Census: Main Street - Ronald Brookes, aged 4 years, born Ingleton, son of John and Mary Brookes.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Ronald Baines Brookes, 1572, C.A.M.C., Imp., Army. 2/Lt R.F.C. Theatre of War: (1) France. Qualifying date [for 1914-15 Star]: 15.9.15. Commn.,19.7.17. Missing 13.3.18. Correspondence: John Brookes Esq. (Father) The Square, Ingleton, Via Carnforth.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: 2 Lieut R. B. Brookes, R.F.C. Missing 13.3.18.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: 2 Lt R. B. Brookes, General List and R.F.C. Date and Place of Death: 13.3.18. On or since. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Legatee - John Brookes Esq. £60 15s. 3d.
Record of Officers' Effects: R. B. Brookes, R.F.C. Amount: £8 8s. 1d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) for Ronald not found.
A short biography of Ronald is included in: ‘The Ingleton War Memorial, 1914-18, 1939-45’ by Andrew Brooks (2005).
Canadian service records: http://www.baclac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/first-world-war-1914-1918-cef
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
BROOKES, Flight-Lieutenant R. B., R.A.F., son of Mr. J. Brookes, Greta Villas, [Ingleton], reported missing March 13, 1918, now presumed dead.
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2nd Lieutenant Ronald Baines BROOKES
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Royal Flying Corps
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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
Ingleton Cemetery
Family gravestone - detail of memorial inscription
Memorial Chamber of Canada’s Parliament Buildings, Ottawa
In the Memorial Chamber are the eight ‘Books of Remembrance’ that contain the names of more than 120,000 Canadians who gave their lives in the service of Canada
Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial (Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman, Clitheroe)
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
04 May 1917
INGLETON - WAR ITEMS
Pte. Ronald Brookes, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Brookes, of Skipton, and formerly of Ingleton, is now in England training for a commission. He intends to join the Flying Corps.
22 March 1918
INGLETON - Second-Lieutenant R. B. Brookes Missing
Mr. John Brookes has received a letter from Lieutenant Parker stating that his youngest son, Second-Lieutenant R. B. Brookes, is missing:- "He set out on a bomb raid along with other machines, and after dropping their bombs they were immediately attacked by the Huns. A running fight was kept up the whole way back to the line, and your son's machine was seen to go down under control. Of course I cannot say what happened after the other machines lost sight of him, yet I think we have good reason to hope that he landed safely. I do hope so. If I have any more word of him I shall let you know immediately. We are very sorry to lose him as he was full of promise and gave signs of making a first-class airman. His kit has been packed and sent to you by way of Cox and Co."
Lieut. Brookes received his education at the Ingleton National School. He was in Canada when the war broke out, and immediately joined up and came out with the first Canadian Contingent. He has spent four Christmases in France. On being offered a commission he joined the Flying Corps. His brother, Second Lieutenant G. Brookes, also joined the Flying Corps, and was wounded in the leg some months ago. He has now recovered from his wounds, and is daily expecting to be sent to France.
12 April 1918
BROOKES - Lieut. Ronald Baines Brookes, Royal Flying Corps, youngest son of Mr. John Brookes, Ingleton. Killed on active service in France, March 13th. Friends please accept this intimation.
12 April 1918
Flight-Lieutenant R. B. Brookes, Ingleton
Mr. John Brookes, Greta Villas, Ingleton, received intimation from the War Office on Wednesday morning that his youngest son, Flight-Lieutenant R. B. Brookes, reported missing on March 13th, is now dead. Lieut. Brookes came over with the first contingent of the Canadian Army, and subsequently accepted a commission and joined the Royal Flying Corps. He received his education at the Ingleton National Schools. His elder brother, Lieut. G. Brookes, is also in the Flying Corps and was wounded some time ago, his observer being killed at the same time. The Union Jack was hoisted half-mast at St. Mary's immediately the sad news was received.
19 April 1918
Flight-Lieut. R. B. Brookes, Ingleton
We reproduce a photograph of Flight-Lieut. R. B. Brookes, of Ingleton, who, as we reported last week, was posted as missing on March 13th, and has since been reported dead. He was the youngest son of Mr. John Brookes, Greta Villas, Ingleton.
21 June 1918
INGLETON - Memorial Service
The third memorial service for those who have fallen in the war was held in St Mary's Church on Sunday evening, when the building was packed. The service opened with the hymn 'O God our help in ages past,' and was of a special character. The lessons were read by Mr. J. Harding, lay reader, and the other hymns sung were 'How bright those glorious spirits shine' and 'Peace, perfect peace.' The Vicar read out the names of those who had fallen since the last memorial service, viz., Capt. E. Walling, M.C., Flight-Lieut. R.B. Brookes, Sergeant T. Heaps, M.M., Segeant R.E. Walker, Lance-Corporal J. Fletcher, Private W. Metcalfe, Private E. Robinson, Private P. Coulson, and Private L. E. Redhead (missing). The Vicar paid all honour to the men who had made the supreme sacrifice; they had laid down their lives in order that we might live in peace, and what had we done or what were we going to do for these men who answered the call of King and Country? Were we worthy of their sacrifice? He urged them to make themselves worthy and not to mourn for them, for they had entered into their rest, but rather to reserve their sympathy for those who were left behind. The Ingleton Colliery Band played the Dead March, and Bugler Robert Howson sounded the 'Last Post,' an impressive service concluding with the National Anthem. A collection of £5 13s 6d. was taken towards a permanent memorial.
14 March 1919
BROOKES - In ever loving memory of Lieut. Ronald Baines Brookes, R.A.F., who was killed in action in Germany on March 13th, 1918, whilst on bombing reprisals. He gave his life for England after serving four years in the great war.
Wings, wings, they had given him wings,
And over the seas he flew;
Like some wild, free exultant thing
He rose into the blue.
Wings that were strong as eagle's wings,
In all his youthful pride,
Brave and alert for his country's call
He soared, and soaring, died.
Wings, wings they had given him wings,
To fly o'er land and sea,
But Thou didst whisper, and the wings
Have carried him to Thee.
Brave soldier boy, for you the strife's o'er,
The battle's done.
From his loving Father, Brothers and Sisters, 37 Otley Road, Skipton.
04 July 1919
PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' - CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS
FLIGHT-LIEUTENANT R. B. BROOKES
Royal Air Force, son of Mr. John Brookes, Seed Hill, Ingleton, officially presumed killed March 13th, 1918.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
04 May 1917
INGLETON
HOME ON LEAVE - Private Ronald Brookes, who has been with the Canadians in France, has paid a short visit to his native place prior to going in for a commission in the Royal Flying Corps. He is a younger brother of Flight Lieutenant Brookes, who was reported last week as wounded whilst flying over the German lines. Lance-Corporal Harry Saul, third son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Saul, of Backgate, Ingleton, who has been wounded in action on two occasions, once whilst in Gallipoli and later in France, is spending six days at home prior to going again to the front. Private J. Newsholme, A.S.C., eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Newsholme, The Square, Ingleton, and Private W. Hodkinson, A.S.C., of Gale Green, Westhouse, have also been home on leave.
22 March 1918
INGLETON
FLIGHT OFFICER REPORTED MISSING - It is with the greatest regret that Ingletonians have received the news that 2nd Lieut. Ronald Baines Brookes has been reported missing. Lieut. Brookes, who is 21 years of age, and had already spent four Christmas Days in France since the war started, is the youngest son of Mr. John Brookes, who for many years carried on the business of printer and newsagent at Ingleton, but emigrated to Canada, from which country they returned since the war commenced. He joined the first Canadian contingent and served as a private for a considerable period, but eventually joined the Flying Corps, in which he obtained a commission last year. He was one of the British airmen who have been engaged in bombing the German towns and failed to return following a recent raid. Mr. Brookes has three other sons serving, one being a flight lieutenant who was wounded whilst flying over German lines last year.
12 April 1918
BROOKES - Previously reported missing, now reported dead, Sec. Lieut. Ronald Baines Brookes, R.F.C., son of Mr. John Brookes, Ingleton, aged 21.
12 April 1918
CRAVEN AND THE WAR
Three Ingleton Soldiers Killed
Mr. John Brookes has received official intimation that his youngest son, 2nd Lieut Ronald Baines Brookes, R.F.C., recently reported missing, is dead. It will be remembered that his machine was brought down in the enemy's country whilst returning from a bombing raid on one of the German cities. He was 21 years of age, and had been in France since 1914.
The parents of Sergt. Thomas Heaps, who reside at the Model Village, Ingleton, have received official intimation that their second son, who was awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery in the field last year, has been killed in action. Sergt. Heaps was a fine specimen of a British soldier, and the sympathy of all Ingletonians go out to his parents. Several letters have been received from both his fellow soldiers and officers regretting greatly the loss of so fine a soldier.
Mr. and Mrs. J. Fletcher, Laburnum Cottages, Ingleton, have received official notice from the War Office that their third son, Corpl. J. Fletcher, has been killed in action on March 23rd. The family have been hard hit by the war, having had two sons killed, and one son lost a leg below the knee. Prior to enlisting Corpl. Fletcher was chauffeur to Dr. Mackenzie, and was exceedingly popular.
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