John Frank Brooks

Story:
John Frank Brooks was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 7 Sep 1899 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 8 Oct 1899 the son of George Brooks, a Blacksmith, and Ellen Beatrice Brooks (nee Pond).   Apart from later life and Military service he lived with his family at 4 Haimes Lane, Shaftesbury.  He had enlisted on 24 Sep 1917 and joined the Royal Naval Air Service (Service No. F38771).  He was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 15 Dec 1917, later becoming the Royal Air Force on 1 Apr 1918, with the rank of Air Mechanic Class 2 (Service No. 238771).  He served in the UK only and was eventually discharged on 2 Dec 1919.  Regrettably by the time of the 1939 Register he was a patient in the Herrison Mental Hospital, Dorchester, Dorset.  He died at the Hospital during 1960 and was buried in Charminster, Dorset, Cemetery on 4 Aug 1960.