S4-040199 PTE. W. BROOKER. A.S.C. Field Butchery - lied about age to enlist

S4-040199 PTE. W. BROOKER. A.S.C.

Walter Brooker was born in [Old] Basing, Hampshire, in the second quarter of 1874, possibly circa 26 May, to William, a Carman, and Caroline, and was baptised in the parish church on 26 July 1874. By the time of the 1911 census Walter was living at 8 Church Square, Basingstoke with his by-now widowed mother, Caroline, and siblings, and working as a butcher. At the time of enlistment in January 1915 he was working for John Thorneycrofts of Basingstoke. He served with the Supply branch of the Army Service Corps, also as a butcher. His next of kin upon enlistment was given as his mother, Caroline.

Having been medically examined on 2 January 1915, Walter stated his age as 35 years and 222 days (implying that he was born circa 26 May 1879, thus taking five years off his actual age). Walter enlisted for the duration of the war and joined for duty at Basingstoke on 4 January 1915, at which time he was medically graded as Class A1. He entered the France and Flanders theatre with the 19th Division Field Butchery on 16 July 1915. The function of these unit was the the supply of fresh meat to the forces in the field. He spent time with 8 Field Butchery, No.4 Lines of Communication Supply Company, and 9 Field Butchery. In November 1916 he was 'combed-out' of his lines of communication rule for infantry service, due to his high medical grade, 'for transfer to a combatant unit' and sent home to Aldershot. There he spent time with the 100th and 90th Training Reserve Battalions. He subsequently reported heart trouble caused in France in March 1917, due to his infantry training. Certainly by April 1917 he had been reclassified as medical grade B.ii.  It is not clear that he saw infantry service, and he later returned to his ASC trade, taking up his old regimental number. He subsequently served with C (Supply) Company at Aldershot. As of May 1919 his age was recorded as 48 at his last birthday. His medical examination prior to discharge confirmed the heart problem (Hypertrophy of heart) and described him as disabled, the degree of disability being under 20%.

Passing through the Fovant Dispersal Station, Pte Brooker transferred to the Army Class 'Z' Reserve on demobilization, on 18 June 1919. For his impairment he was pensioned at 5 Shillings and Sixpence weekly for one year 

Walter's postwar address was 21 Victoria Street, Basingstoke. For his service he was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. By 1921 he was living with his family (five brothers, sister and niece) at 12 Victoria Street and working as a labourer at J J Thorneycrofts, presumably the same as his old workplace. Walter appears to have died in Basingstoke in the third quarter of 1936.