Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Brookes a shoe trade finisher, born 1870 in Earl Shilton, Leics., and his wife Mary, born 1870 in Earl Shilton, Leics. John was born in 1898 in Earl Shilton, Leics., his siblings were, Caroline, born 1894, Blanche, born 1895 and Mabel, born 1901, all his siblings were born in Earl Shilton, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at 7, Keats Lane, Earl Shilton, Leics. In April 1911 John was employed as a hosiery trade runner on and was residing in the family home at 70, Keats Lane, Earl Shilton, Leics., together with his father and mother, now a hosiery stitcher, and his siblings, Caroline, Blanche, Frederick, born 1904 and Mary Jane, born 1907, the latter two siblings were born in Earl Shilton, Leics.