Individual Notes
Note for: Frederick George Brooks, 1 May 1883 - 5 Sep 1947
Index
Individual Note: Bedford school barrister Middle Temple, Master High Court, Salisbury
S. Rhodesia. Represented England at Rugby 1908-1909 scoring only try
in the England-South Africa game.
Represented South Africa in the Davis tennis cup.
All around athlete, and star of Rhodesia Cricket Club.
1906-07
There was an ironic ending to the first test South Africa ever played against England, the 21st match and third test of their tour.
The match was played at Crystal Palace in London, at a time when rugby did not have a ground big enough for such a fixture. Despite the drizzle 40,000 spectators arrived.
Billy Millar scored a try for South Africa and the Springboks led 3-0 at half-time.
Playing for England was a three-quarter, Freddie Brooks. He was playing for Rhodesia in the 1906 Currie Cup tournament in Johannesburg which doubled as trials for the tour to the UK, Ireland and France. Brooks was not chosen.
But he was in England and playing there when the Springboks were on tour. The Springboks suffered injuries and a suggestion was made to Paul Roos that they rope in Freddie Brooks. He declined, believing that rugby gentlemen had to use their own resources in coping with adversity.
England chose Brooks, and in the second half at Crystal Palace, off an ill-judged flykick by Sid de Melker, Brooks scored the try which drew the match. It was the only match Freddie Brooks played for England.
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Frederick Brooks
Frederick George Brooks
Born: 1 May 1883, Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India
Died: 5 September 1947, Hermanus, Cape Province, South Africa
Major Teams: Rhodesia.
Known As: Frederick Brooks
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Freddie Brooks
Full Name: Frederick George Brooks
Born: 1 May 1883, Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India
Died: 5 September 1947, Hermanus, Cape Province, South Africa
Major Teams: Rhodesia.Awarded the OBE
Career Statistics:
FIRST-CLASS
(career: 1904/05 - 1909/10)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 2 4 0 123 61 30.75 0 2 1 0
O M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling - - - - - - - - - -
Pictures of Freddie Brooks
* Freddie Brooks
Profile:
Freddie Brooks was educated at Bedford Grammar where he was a superb allround sportsman � he was the Public Schools champion at the 100 yards, 110 yard hurdles, long jump and high jump. He captained the XI and led from the front � his scores of 162 and 196 were the highest made for the school � and was also an outstanding rugby three-quarter. Word of his talent spread to Rhodesia and, aged 19, he was offered a position in the civil service and moved to Salisbury in 1902. He made an immediate impression, scoring 121 in his first outing in club cricket. Within a year he won the first of his Rhodesian tennis singles and athletic sprint titles, and also set the national record for the high jump. Although he was talked about as a potential South African international, Brooks struggled to find enough time to do his talents justice although he made 61 on his first-class debut for Rhodesia against Transvaal.
But he played Currie Cup rugby in South Africa and was controversially left out of the Springbok side which toured England in . Brooks, however, was in England at the time, and after attempts to draft him into the South African side failed, he remarkably found himself selected for England against the Stringboks after a series of outstanding performances. Brooks scored England�s only try in a 3-3 draw. He turned down an offer to play against Wales and Scotland, returning to Rhodesia to get married.
His second first-class outing was for Rhodesia against HDG Leveson-Gower�s XI in 1909-10; he again made a fifty.
�Brooks was for a number of year�s Rhodesia�s leading cricketer, athlete, football, rugby and tennis player,� wrote Jonty Winch. �He was also one of the country�s most respected personalities, serving as Master of the High Court and then Chairman of the Public Service before his death in 1947
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
1901 census: Living in Bedford, England, age 17, born in India.
Individual Notes
Note for: Gilbert Francis Brooks, 1922 - 1944
Index
Nickname: Nibs
Individual Note: Killed in RAF in second world war. Francis Gilbert Brooks-younger son of Mr and Mrs Freddie Brooks. He was educated at Prince Edward School and the Imperial Service’s College, England. He returned to Salisbury to become a learner farmer on his brother Sonny Brooks’s farm.
Francis joined the RAF, became a flight engineer and flew in many raids. On 19 February, 1944, his bomber was shot down over Leipzig, Germany. He was a rear gunner, 22 years old.
FRANCIS GILBERT BROOKS
Sergeant 777769 166 Squadron., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died on Sunday 20 February 1944 . Age 22 .
Additional Information: Son of Fredrick George and Gladys Anne Brooks, of Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia. Cemetery: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Surrey, United Kingdom Grave or Reference Panel Number: Panel 225.