Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Captain

Unit:

F Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Awarded on:

February 17th, 1944

Recommendation:
"Captain Brooks went into the field in July 1942. Although only 20 years of age, his performance has been a model example of superlative efficiency.
On going into the field, he was given one contact only, but, by his quick-wittedness, resourcefulness and discipline, he has built up an organisation which is the perfect clandestine circuit.
His amazing powere of command has inspired all with whom he has come in contact with confidence and a supreme faith in his ability as a leader.
The groups which he leads have the following actions to their recent credit:-
1. 150 Kw. power plant out of action for 3 months.
2. 50 ton crane at Lyons out of action for 1 month.
3. 30 ton locomotive out of action for 1 month and 5 for 3 months.
4. Destroyed by fire:
(a) 50,000 ltres of ether.
(b) German cables store.
(c) two tankers of naphtaline.
(d) twelve tankers of petrol.
(e) four trucks of resin.
(f) Eight hundred aircraft wings.
(g) One transformer.
(h) Machine tools sabotaged in three factories.
(i) On 21 Oct. 43 armed men held up a lorry conveying prisoners from Gestapo building to Fort Montlue. 21 prisoners liberated, 5 Gestapo guards killed. Own casualties two men slightly injured.
Captain Brooks has remained in action in the field for 14 months."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Major

Unit:

F Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Awarded on:

August 30th, 1945

Recommendation:
"Prior to September 1943 when he was awarded the M.C. this officer had worked on escape routes in France and also organised resistance in Eastern and Southern France.
In December 1943 after a visit to the U.K. to receive orders, he was again parachuted into France for resistance work in collaboration with members of the French Trade Unions, and to prepare concerted action for D Day and post D Day activities. The nature of his circuit made his organisation the most widely scattered in France, with groups working in the areas of TOULOUSE, MONTAUBAN, GIVORS, LYON and GRENOBLE. In order to control all these groups, Brooks was continually travelling and thus risking controls and the danger of arrest.
His main connections were with the French railway workers. Among them he formed and trained grease-gun crews, railway cutting crews and stores distributing crews.
These groups were responsible for rail sabotage on a large scale.
Many of the attacks were led by him personally, and by great courage and technical ability he inflicted severe blows on the enemy's rail communications. The following are examples of the sabotage which took place from D Day onwards:
1. Lines cut North of MONTAUBAN.
2. Intermittent cuts lines MONTAUBAN - AGEN.
3. Lines cut CAHORS - VILLENEUVE
CAHORS - CAPDENAC
4. Lines cut BRIVE - CAPDENAC
LEXOS - CAPDENAC
TOULOUSE - MONTAUBAN
TOULOUSE - TARBES.
5. Permanent blocking of the following railway lines:-
MONTAUBAN - LEXOS
MONTAUBAN - CAHORS
CAPDENAC - BRIVE
BRIVE - CAHORS
CAHORS - VILLENEUVE-SUR-LOT
BOURG -AMBERIEU
CULOZ - AMBERIEU
Cranes were destroyed at AMBERIEU, MONTAUBAN, CAHORS, BOURG and AGEN and altogether 107 locomotives were put out of action. by this sabotage work, Brooks forced the Germans to use the roads, and when German convoys moved along the highways he continued to attack them by laying ambushes. As the U.S. 7th Army approached LYON he intensified these attacks on German transport, and at the same time organised and carried out telephone cuts around LYON and BOURG. He led the first American tank patrol into LYON.
In the execution of his work he received 70 successful parachute operations. Although these operations were scattered over a large area, the committees trained by Brooks were most reliable, and receptions were always well-organised. Brooks never spared himself, and never hesitated to carry out a reception himself in order to experiment in the type of method most suitable. It was his personal contact which gave unity and cohesion to his groups, and which made possibleconcerted action on D Day.
For his untiring and courageous work, for his bravery in action, for his skill as an organiser, and for the havoc he wrought on German communications, it is recommended that he be appointed a Companion in the Distinguished Service Order."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

F Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

F Section, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government

With Bronze Palm.