James Anson Otho Brooke
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James Anson Otho Brooke (3 February 1884 - October 29, 1914) was a Scottish (sometimes considered Irish) recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
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[edit] Details
Brooke was a 30-year-old lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 29 October 1914 near Gheluvelt, Belgium, Lieutenant Brooke led two attacks on the German trenches under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire, regaining a lost trench at a very critical moment. By his marked coolness and promptitude on this occasion, Lieutenant Brooke prevented the enemy from breaking through the British line at a time when a general counter-attack could not have been organised. Having regained the lost trench, he went back to bring up supports, and while doing so, was killed.
Lieutenant Brooke was posthumously promoted to captain, effective to September 1914. He is interred at Zantvoorde British Cemetery (CWGC), Zonnebeke, Belgium (near Ypres).
[edit] The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen, Scotland.
[edit] References
- Buzzell, Nora. (1997) The Register of the Victoria Cross (3rd Ed.). This England Press. ISBN 0-906324-27-0
- Doherty, Richard and David Truesdale (2000). Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross. Four Courts Press. ISBN 1-85182-442-1
- Gliddon, Gerald (Ed.) (1994) 1914 (VCs of the First World War). Alan Sutton Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 0-7509-1444-0
- Harvey, David (1999). Monuments to Courage. Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies.
- Ross, Graham and William Reid (1998). Scotland's Forgotten Valour. ISBN 1-899272-00-3
