ROOKS, Joseph


No.G/67705, Private, Joseph ROOKS
Aged 19


2nd/3rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
formerly 34396, East Surrey Regiment
Killed in Action on Friday, 26th October 1917


Joseph Rooks was born in Castle Camps 1898 (Linton Q1-1898 3B:504), baptised in Castle Camps Congregational Church on 9th October 1898, son of Joseph and Emily ROOKS (née WATSON).

1901 census...Aged 3, he was in Castle Camps with his father Joseph ROOKS [38] farm labourer; his mother Emily [37] born Tottenham; brother Samson [14]; sisters Ella [13], Ellen [8] and Cecilia [6]. All except his mother were born in Castle Camps.

1911 census...Aged 13, he was in Castle Camps with his parents and sister Cecilia. Two of the seven siblings had died.


The Battalion war diary:-
Polecappelle - October 26th -At 5:40 am being zero hour, the battalion advanced to attack NE of Poelcappelle supported by the 57th Division on our left and the 2/2 Bn London with the 63rd Div on our right. Owing to the appalling condition of the ground the progress of advance was very slow and in some cases our men were unable to keep up with our artillery barrage. The infantry were held up at several points by M.G. and rifle fire and several local attacks were made resulting in the capture of some prisoners. e were able to advance to points about half way towards our final objective and on the right we almost gained our objective but owing to heavy German counter attack and the large number of casualties, especially amongst the officers and our flanks being exposed we were forced to withdraw. We managed to take up a position on our assembly line forming a line of posts and we were shortly afterwards reinforced by 3 Coys of the 2/1 London who were in support.The Bosche artillery kept up heavy shelling all day round Poelcappelle and at intervals during the night. Our commanding officer was mortally wounded during the early morning on trying to reorganise our position after being forced back. The battalion was relieved about 11 am by the 2/1 London and moved out of the line to Siege camp. Strength 4 officers and 224 OR (approx) Met.notes Showery.


CWGC has 95 killed, only 3 with identified graves. Many would have drowned in the mud. O'Neill's History of the Royal Fusiliers says the battalion only had 2 officers and 17 men active on returning to camp.


Imagine trying to get quickly across this ground in full kit and under shelling and machine gun fire





Joseph Rooks is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, panels 28 to 30, 162, 162A, 163A

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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