Personal info
- Name: Edward BROOKS
- D.O.B: 11th Apr, 1883
- D.O.A: 28th Apr, 1917
- D.O.D: 26th Jun, 1944
- Award: Victoria Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Company Sergeant Major, 2nd/4th Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 184th Brigade, 61st Division
- Book: The Complete History - Volume 2
Fayet, Aisne, France 28 April 1917
28 April 1917
The First World War 1917
Early on the morning of 28 April 1917 near the village of Fayet just north-west of St Quentin, where there had been a previous action on the 14th, C Company, 2nd/4th Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, under Captain G K Rose, mounted a raid through a gap in a section of enemy trench. They encountered more enemy troops than expected but captured a machine-gun and two Germans before making their way back to the British lines.
Citation
This Warrant Officer, while taking part in a raid on the enemy’s trenches, saw that the front wave was checked by an enemy machine gun at close quarters. On his own initiative, and regardless of personal danger, he rushed forward from the second wave with the object of capturing the gun, killing one of the gunners with his revolver and bayonetting another. The remainder of the gun’s crew then made off, leaving the gun in his possession. C. S./M. Brooks then turned the machine gun on to the retreating enemy, after which he carried it back into our lines. By his courage and initiatve he undoubtedly prevented many casualties, and greatly added to the success of the operations.