By Dan Hayes

The grave of a Royal Army Medical Corps doctor who was killed in 1918 has been identified in the Champagne region of northern France.

A rededication service for 55-year-old Captain Frederick Brooke took place at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) La Ville-aux-Bois British cemetery near Reims on 6 September 2023.

Born in Cambridgeshire, Captain Brooke was the father of seven children, one of whom, Cecil, was killed on 24 April 1917 while serving with 8th Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

Captain Brooke was commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps on 10 July 1915 and was deployed to Sidmouth Barracks before serving onboard hospital ship HMS Britannic, the sister ship of the Titanic, and at Thornhill Camp near Winchester.

Despite his comparatively advanced age, he then went to France as medical officer of 1st Battalion, The Wiltshire Regiment.

Rearguard action

On 26 May 1918, the battalion was in positions in front of Guyencourt when it was subjected to a heavy gas bombardment. At 7am the troops moved forward to cover the retirement of frontline units before, just after 10am, they advanced to hold the line in front of Bouffignereux.

The Battalion HQ and nearby regimental aid post, from which Captain Brooke would have operated, came under heavy fire until, around 5pm, the Wiltshires were forced to retreat. Splitting into small groups, they fought rear-guard actions to delay the German advance. Captain Brooke was among those killed at some stage during the fighting that day.

The rededication service was attended by three generations of Captain Brooke’s family, including his great granddaughter, Ana Retallack, who had travelled from Australia, with her husband and children.

Painstaking search

Captain Brooke’s grave was found after a researcher from the Western Front Association submitted evidence suggesting that it could be identified. Further research was then carried out by the National Army Museum and the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC).

Speaking at the rededication service, the Reverend Tim Clarke-Wood CF, Chaplain to 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said: “Captain Brooke’s story is significant in that he served at a more advanced age than most – at 55 he was experienced in life and no doubt brought that wisdom into his role as a medical officer. As a Padre these moments are precious as you take opportunity to participate in a person’s story that started in the 19th Century. It is my great privilege to have rededicated Captain Brooke’s grave and to do so with so many of his family present.”

Captain Brooke had previously been commemorated on the Soissons Memorial to the Missing.