Brooke – A family of soldiers
September 24, 2018 - The Chairman in News & Blog Posts, Chairman's Blog
On a recent vis
it to Northern Ireland we found ourselves in County Fermanagh and in particular Colebrooke Park where stands Aghalurcher Parish Church. Within were two interesting memorials.
One is to the memory of Francis Brooke, aged 22, of the 1st Dragoon Guards who was killed in the charge at Waterloo.
Another plaque in the church remembers his uncle, another Francis Brooke who commanded the 4th of Foot at Waterloo, and had to take temporary command of Lambert’s Brigade.
The Brookes are a famous military family which include a VC winner, James Brooke and Field Marshal Viscount Alanbrooke who spent part of his childhood there. In the two World Wars, 26 members of the Brooke family served in WW1 and 27 in WW2. A remarkable record.
Whilst on Memorials, if you are interested there is now a very comprehensive record of memorials to those who fought at Waterloo and in the Peninsula. David Bromley has created a masterpiece for those who need such a reference book.
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Wellingtons-Men-Remembered-Vol-1-Hardback/p/3307
