Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Samuel Ward Brookes, a coal miner, born in the January quarter of 1864 in Markfield, Leicestershire and baptised on the 9th September 1866 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield (son of John Brooks, 1840 and Mary Bowley (nee Clapham), 1840) and his wife Mary Agnes Brooks (nee Geary, married on the 30th September 1888 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield), born in the October quarter of 1870 in Markfield and baptised on the 13th February 1871 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield (daughter of William Brooks and Mary Smith). John William was born in the October quarter of 1888 in Markfield and was baptised on the 10th March 1889 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield, he had one sibling, George Harry, born in the January quarter of 1890 in Markfield and baptised on the 13th December 1891 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield, in April 1891 the family home was at Main Street, Markfield. In March 1901 John was residing in the family home at Main Street, Markfield, together with his father, a coal miner, his mother and siblings, George, Walter, born in the April quarter of 1892 and baptised on the 29th October 1894 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield, Samuel, born in the January quarter of 1894 and baptised on the 29th October 1894 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield, Nora Agnes, born on the 24th December 1895 and baptised on the 12th February 1899 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield, Ada Lilian, born in the January quarter of 1898 and baptised on the 12th February 1899 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield and Mary, born in the October quarter of 1899 and baptised on the 6th December 1903 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield, all his siblings were born in Markfield. In April 1911 John was employed as a coal miner and was residing in the family home at Shaw Lane, Markfield, together with his father, a coal miner, his mother and siblings, George, a coal miner, Walter, a coal miner, Samuel, a coal miner, Nora, Ada, a schoolgirl, Mary, a schoolgirl, Alfred, a schoolboy, born in the October quarter of 1902 in Markfield and baptised on the 6th December 1903 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield, Edith, a schoolgirl, born in the April quarter of 1905 in Hugglescote and baptised on the 2nd September 1906 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield, Horace, born in the April quarter of 1907 and baptised on the 20th May 1907 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield and Ernest, born in the October quarter of 1910 and baptised on the 20th November 1910 in St. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield, the latter two siblings were both born in Markfield.
John’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
All that is known of John’s military service is that he had enlisted/attested in Coalville into the Leicestershire Regiment, and had been allotted the service number 10205. He is then recorded as serving as a Private with the 6th (Service) Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment. He first entered the theatre of war in France on the 29th July 1915 with his Battalion. With the exception of the War Diary entries, there is no information that relates to his movements during his military service. It was on the 26th March 1918 that he was officially reported as having been killed in action, he was buried in Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension in France. John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 26 Mar-18 - In the direction of MERICOURT-L-ABBE, arriving there about 9.00pm. Orders then received to proceed to RIBEMONT, where outposts were placed in position and the remainder of the Battalion slept in the SUCRERIE.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
The following information was kindly submitted to the project by F Tilley-Genty in 2016:

"John William was born in Markfield, Leicestershire His mother Mary Ann was his sole leg beneficiary.
He lived in Markfield before the War.
Military Service:
John William enlisted with the Army in Coalville, Leicestershire John William was killed in action; he is remembered at Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme (80) France. Reference: Li D8 Sadly there it doesn’t seem we can find any Service Record and details of John William Brooks are lost.
He is also commemorated at St Peter’s Church Memorial, Copt Oak, Leicestershire."

Coalville Times article – Friday April 30th, 1920

WAR MEMORIAL AT COPT OAK CHURCH

WINDOW DECORATED BY THE BISHOP OF PETERBOROUGH

A large congregation was present at Copt Oak Church on Sunday morning to witness the dedication by the Bishop of Peterborough of a beautiful stained-glass window which has been placed in the church in memory of local men who gave their lives in the great war.

The window has three lights, the centre light being occupied by a warrior kneeling at the foot of Christ, with the inscription, “Faithful unto death, 1914 – 1918.” The following are the fallen who are commemorated:

E. Bowley, J. W. Brooks, J. H. Gibbins, H. Heggs, H. A. V. Hull, H. Hall, R. Irons, T. J. Kelham, A. H. Mason, G. H. Partner, P. B. Pearce, S. W. Richardson, H. Read, P. Tyers, S. A. Whyles and W. Wibberley.

Immediately preceding the service, a muffled peal was rung on the bells. The Rev. H. C. Gannell (vicar) took the first part of the service, which was fully choral, and the Rev. J. Martin, of Charley Hall, read the lessons. The special music rendered by the choir included the Te Deum (Hopkins) and the anthem, “Rejoice in the Lord” (Elvey). Mrs Gannell officiated at the organ, and at the close played the Dead March in “Saul.”

The Bishop, in his address from St. John, xx, 29, emphasised the power of the Resurrection, dealing with the introduction of Christianity into Britain, the progress made in Uganda, India and China. Instead of thinking of God as a kind of arch-magistrate seated on a distant star, we must think of one who is full of sympathy even for those whom many consider as beyond the pale. His Lordship continued, “We remember those gallant men who gave their lives in the war. They have cleared the way for a new Britain, a better Europe and a new world. Our task is to carry on, not to beat the Germans, but to form a truer fellowship, a lasting peace and goodwill. We must never falter until the great League of Nations is rooted and grounded in brotherly love, and a new comradeship is established, not every one grabbing for self, but each man loving his neighbour as himself.”

The congregation included many of the relatives of the deceased men. The collections at the services, including the Choral Communion Service at 8 am, at which the Bishop of Peterborough was the celebrant, were for the Window Fund. The service at 6.30 pm was taken by the Rev. T. W. Walters, Whitwick, Rural Dean.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 22/5/2019