WW1 Submarine UB91 - Captained by Lt. Brookes. (General)
I am researching Chepstow's Unique War Memorial. It is the only War memorial Gun in this Country. The Gun was presented to Chepstow by King George V in recognition of the bravery of William Charles Williams VC, who was awarded his VC for his bravery at Gallipoli in 1915. The gun is from a German Submarine.
During my researches I found out that the German submarine UB 91 surrendered at Harwich in Nov. 1918 and Lt. Brookes and 5 crew took the submarine on goodwill visits to Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Port Talbot and Pembroke Dock. The submarine was broken up at Briton Ferry in 1921 and the gun brought to Chepstow.
When interviewed by the Argus reporter in Newport Lt. Brookes told the press that he was born in Blaenavon, but his father now worked in The Flour Mill Colliery, Bream.
My researches are nearly finished but I would like to know if any 'Brookes' in the Forest of Dean are related to Lt. Brookes.
Possibly a grandfather who was a sub-mariner in WW1.
If any relation has any old photographs or memories that I could use in my researches I would be very grateful.
Thanks
Bryan Rendell
William Charles WILLIAMS VC 1880 1915 Chepstow R I P
by slowhands 
, proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Friday, March 09, 2007, 03:55 (6471 days ago) @ Bryan Rendell
![[image]]( http://forest-of-dean.net/images/Poppy.jpg )
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
"This Gun taken from a captured
German submarine was presented by
his Majesty King George the Fifth
To the town of Chepstow in
recognition of the award of the
Victoria Cross to Able Seaman William
Charles Williams RFR of this Town
During the landing from the "River
Clyde" at V. Beach Seddul Bahr. He
assisted in replacing in position the
lighters forming the bridge to the
shore and which had broken adrift,
holding on to a line in the water for
over an hour until killed ( 25th April 1915)"
Name: WILLIAMS, WILLIAM CHARLES
Initials: W C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Able Seaman
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: (RFR/PO/B/3766), H.M.S. "Hussar."
Age: 34
Date of Death: 25/04/1915
Service No: 186774
Awards: VC
Additional information: Son of the late William and Elizabeth Williams, of Chepstow, Mon.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 8.
Memorial: PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
Citation: An extract from the London Gazette, No. 29264, dated 13th Aug., 1915,
records the following:-"Held on to a line in the water for over an hour under heavy fire, until killed."
1901
William C Williams abt 1881 Slanton Lucy, Shropshire, England Crew Vessels Royal Navy
[ Stanton Lacy north of Ludlow]
1901
William Williams abt 1859 Belmont, Herefordshire, England Head Chepstow Monmouthshire
Lucy Williams abt 1873 Meanwood Leeds, Yorkshire, England Wife Chepstow Monmouthshire
Mabel Williams abt 1891 Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales Daughter Chepstow Monmouthshire
Rose Williams abt 1887 Meanwood Leeds, Yorkshire, England Daughter Chepstow Monmouthshire
Clara Williams abt 1893 Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales Chepstow Monmouthshire
George Williams abt 1900 Skipton, Yorkshire, England Chepstow Monmouthshire
1891
William Williams abt 1860 Herefordshire, England Head Chepstow Monmouthshire
Elizabeth Williams abt 1854 Ludlow, Shropshire, England Wife Chepstow Monmouthshire
Annie Williams abt 1884 Birmingham, Warwickshire, England Daughter Chepstow Monmouthshire
Frances Williams abt 1882 Sheffield Daughter Chepstow Monmouthshire
Rose Williams abt 1887 Leeds, Yorkshire, England Daughter Chepstow Monmouthshire
William Williams abt 1881 Ludlow, Shropshire, England Son Chepstow Monmouthshire
1881
William Williams abt 1855 Clehonger, Hereford, England Head Pinhoe Devon
Elizabeth Williams abt 1853 Batchcott, Shropshire, England Wife Pinhoe Devon
William C. Williams Ludlow, Shropshire, England Son Pinhoe Devon
Name: William Charles Williams
Year of Registration: 1880
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Ludlow
County: Herefordshire, Shropshire
Volume: 6a
Page: 535
1871
George Williams abt 1810 Clehonger, Herefordshire, England Head Clehonger Herefordshire
Martha Williams abt 1819 St Peter, Herefordshire, England Wife Clehonger Herefordshire
George Williams abt 1854 Clehonger, Herefordshire, England Son Clehonger Herefordshire
William Williams abt 1860 Clehonger, Herefordshire, England Son Clehonger Herefordshire
1861
George Williams abt 1810 Clehonger, Herefordshire, England Head Clehonger Herefordshire
Martha Williams abt 1820 St Peters, Herefordshire, England Wife Clehonger Herefordshire
George Williams abt 1854 Clehonger, Herefordshire, England Son Clehonger Herefordshire
William Williams abt 1859 Clehonger Son Clehonger Herefordshire
Susan Knill abt 1784 Thruxton, Herefordshire, England Mother Clehonger Herefordshire
1851
Martha Williams abt 1819 S Peters, Herefordshire, England Head Clehonger Herefordshire
Susan Knell abt 1785 Kilpeck, Herefordshire, England Mother Clehonger Herefordshire
George Williams abt 1809 Clehonger, Herefordshire, England Clehonger Herefordshire
1841
William Williams abt 1781 Herefordshire, England Clehonger Herefordshire
Mary Williams abt 1786 Herefordshire, England Clehonger Herefordshire
George Williams abt 1811 Herefordshire, England Clehonger Herefordshire
James Williams abt 1831 Herefordshire, England Clehonger Herefordshire
Mary Williams abt 1821 Herefordshire, England Clehonger Herefordshire
BROOKES - Blaenavon and West Dean
by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Friday, March 09, 2007, 06:26 (6471 days ago) @ Bryan Rendell
This "mining family" seems to have connections in the right geographies
1901
Chas Brooks abt 1864 Lydney, Gloucestershire, England Head Aberystruth Monmouthshire
Sarah Brooks abt 1866 Devizes, Wiltshire, England Wife Aberystruth Monmouthshire
Edith Brooks abt 1897 Brithdir, Glamorgan, Wales Daughter Aberystruth Monmouthshire
Fred Brooks abt 1888 Blaina, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Aberystruth Monmouthshire
Jacob Brooks abt 1900 Blaina, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Aberystruth Monmouthshire
Mary Brooks abt 1890 Beaufort, Breconshire, Wales Daughter Aberystruth Monmouthshire
Thos Brooks abt 1860 Lydney, Gloucestershire, England Brother Aberystruth Monmouthshire
Jacob Ford abt 1844 Devizes, Wiltshire, England Father-in-law Aberystruth Monmouthshire
Thos Brookes abt 1885 Blaenavon, Monmouthshire, Wales Nephew Aberystruth Monmouthshire
1891
Charles Brooks abt 1865 Worcestershire, England Head Llangattock Monmouthshire
Sarah Brooks abt 1867 Wiltshire, England Wife Llangattock Monmouthshire
Fred Brooks abt 1888 Blaina, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Llangattock Monmouthshire
Mary Brooks abt 1890 Beaufort, Breconshire, Wales Daughter Llangattock Monmouthshire
Annie Ford abt 1863 Wiltshire, England Visitor Llangattock Monmouthshire
1891
Thomas Brooks abt 1860 Clent; Worstershire Head Llangeinor Glamorgan
Mary Brooks abt 1853 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Wife Llangeinor Glamorgan
Edith Brooks abt 1890 Brelycymer, Glamorgan, Wales Daughter Llangeinor Glamorgan
Thomas Brooks abt 1886 Blaenavon, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Llangeinor Glamorgan
William Brooks abt 1887 Blaenavon, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Llangeinor Glamorgan
1881
Thomas Brooks abt 1839 Malvern, Worcestershire, England Head West Dean Gloucestershire
Mary Brooks abt 1836 Charlton, Worcestershire, England Wife West Dean Gloucestershire
Albert Brooks abt 1874 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
Alfred Brooks abt 1862 Clent, Worcestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
Annie Brooks abt 1870 Aylburton, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean Gloucestershire
Charles Brooks abt 1864 Aylburton, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
Edward Brooks abt 1861 Clent, Worcestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
Frederick Brooks abt 1875 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
Henry Brooks abt 1872 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
John Brooks abt 1867 Aylburton, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
William Brooks abt 1866 Aylburton, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
1871
Thomas Brooks abt 1836 Clent, Worcestershire, England Head Newland Gloucestershire
Mary Brooks abt 1835 Charlton, Worcestershire, England Wife Newland Gloucestershire
Alfred Brooks abt 1862 Clent, Westmorland, England Son Newland Gloucestershire
Annie Brooks abt 1870 Aylburton, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Newland Gloucestershire
Charles Brooks abt 1864 Aylburton, Gloucestershire, England Son Newland Gloucestershire
Edward Brooks abt 1861 Clent, Westmorland, England Son Newland Gloucestershire
John Brooks abt 1867 Aylburton, Gloucestershire, England Son Newland Gloucestershire
Thomas Brooks abt 1860 Clent, Westmorland, England Son Newland Gloucestershire
William Brooks abt 1866 Aylburton, Gloucestershire, England Son Newland Gloucestershire
Name: Charles Brookes
Year of Registration: 1864
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: Chepstow
County: Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire
Volume: 11a
Page: 13
1861
Thomas Brookes abt 1839 Mathon, Worcestershire, England Head Clent Worcestershire
Mary Brookes abt 1837 Charleton, Worcestershire, England Wife Clent Worcestershire
Edward Brookes abt 1860 Clent, Worcestershire, England Son Clent Worcestershire
Thomas Brookes abt 1860 Clent, Worcestershire, England Son Clent Worcestershire
1851
Thomas Brook abt 1839 N Servant Clent Worcestershire
1841
William Brook abt 1816 Worcestershire, England Mathon Worcestershire
Sarah Brook abt 1816 Worcestershire, England Mathon Worcestershire
Ann Brook abt 1840 Worcestershire, England Mathon Worcestershire
George Brook abt 1837 Worcestershire, England Mathon Worcestershire
Thomas Brook abt 1839 Worcestershire, England Mathon Worcestershire
BROOKES - Blaenavon and West Dean
My Grandfather William Brookes born in Blaenavon 1987 was a miner for a short period and then joined as a seaman after marrying my grandmother Alice Ann Jones.They came from Bream or Ellwood. A lot of the names mentioned are my ancestors.William later became Lieutenant Commander in the Australian Navy.
BROOKES - Blaenavon and West Dean
by ttd0 , Tuesday, February 06, 2018, 21:48 (2483 days ago) @ Lyn Dryden
Hi Lyn
My wife is a direct descendent of one of William Brookes' siblings.