Sidney George Brookman – Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division

Able Seaman Sidney George Brookman – Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division

Sidney George Brookman

Sidney George Brookman was born in 1900 in Swansea, the son of James Brookman and Matilda Toft, who were married in 1899 in Swansea.

Family Background and Early Life

1901 Census

At the time of the 1901 Census, the Brookman family were residing at 11 Vincent Street, Swansea. James Brookman (21) was employed as a railway shunter, while his wife Matilda (22), born in Manchester, managed the household.
Their only child at this time was Sidney George (1).

1911 Census

By the time of the 1911 Census, the family had moved to 17 Vincent Street, Swansea and had grown in number. James Brookman (32) was still employed as a railway shunter, and Matilda (32) remained at home.
Their children were Sidney George (11) and James Redvers (9), both attending school; Matilda Mary (4); and James (2).
Also present in the household was William Brookman (48), James’s brother.

Naval Service and Death

Shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, Sidney George Brookman attempted to enlist without his parents’ knowledge. As he was underage, his parents were able to secure his discharge.

Undeterred, on 4^th January 1915 Sidney enlisted again, this time with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, joining the Hood Battalion of the Royal Naval Division. On enlistment he declared his age as 19, enabling him to serve. He subsequently embarked for the Dardanelles on 27^th February 1915 as part of the British expeditionary force.

The Royal Naval Division was heavily engaged during the Gallipoli Campaign, where naval personnel served as infantry under extremely difficult conditions. The Hood Battalion took part in operations around Achi Baba, one of the key objectives overlooking the Gallipoli peninsula.

On 4^th June 1915, during fighting at Achi Baba, Able Seaman Sidney George Brookman was killed in action. Contemporary reports state that he was buried at Sedd-ul-Bahr, but his grave was later lost due to continued fighting and battlefield conditions.

Sidney George Brookman has no known grave and is now commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Turkey, which bears the names of those who died in the Gallipoli Campaign and whose burial places are unknown.

He was just 15 years old at the time of his death, one of the youngest members of the Royal Naval Division to lose his life during the campaign, and his story reflects both the determination of young volunteers and the tragic cost of the Gallipoli fighting.