Arthur William Brooks

Captain Arthur William Brooks, D.S.O., R.N. (1 May, 1887 – 18 July, 1941) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Westminster, Brooks passed out of Britannia on 15 September 1903 and was appointed to the destroyer Grafton on the Pacific Station. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 November, 1907.

In 1908, he placed highly in the Beaufort and Wharton Testimonial competition.

Brooks served as gunnery officer from the ship's commissioning until she was lost on 19 August, 1916, being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 November, 1915. On 12 February 1917 he was appointed as gunnery officer in the light cruiser Birmingham.

Brooks left Birmingham after the war and became involved in gunnery instruction for Reserve Fleet Ships being conducted out of H.M.S. Colossus. While so engaged, he was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1919.

Having been appointed to work with the Director of Naval Equipment, in January 1921 Brooks participated in the Fire Control Table Development Committee.

In September 1926 he was lent to the Air Ministry for work in their Department of the Directorate of Armament, vice Tower. He remained there until 1930 when he was began being serially admitted to hospital, probably from hypertension that would later afflict him. He was declared fit in August 1930 and was appointed in command of the first of two light cruisers in reserve.

Brooks was placed on the Retired List at his own request at the rank of Captain on 16 May, 1933. He took up work teaching mathematics. In 1938, he would report that he unfit due to high blood pressure.

See Also

• Service Records

Bibliography

Naval Appointments
Preceded by John G. Bower	Captain of H.M.S. Cambrian 14 Aug, 1930 – Apr, 1931	Succeeded by Cecil N. Reyne
Preceded by Stuart S. Bonham-Carter	Captain of H.M.S. Calcutta 24 Apr, 1931 – 14 Nov, 1932	Succeeded by Sir Atwell H. Lake, Bart.