Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Brookes a railway engine driver, born 1863 in Wolverton, Bucks., and his wife Louisa, born 1864 in Leicester. John Richard was born in 1899 in Leicester, his siblings were William T., born 1885, Louisa Annie, born 1887, Charles E., born 1889, Alfred, born 1891, Florence, born 1893, Dorothy Jane, born 1895 and Nelly Beatrice, born 1898, all his siblings were born in Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at 51, Newby Street, Leicester. In April 1911 John was a scholar and was residing in the family home at 7, Newby Street, Leicester, together with his parents and siblings, Louisa, Alfred, Florence, Dorothy, Nelly, Samuel Arthur, born 1903, Alice Winifred, born 1904 and Albert Henry, born 1907, the latter three siblings were all born in Leicester. In the January, February, March quarter of 1917, John married Evelyn Toon in the Leicester registration district. In the January, February, March quarter of 1920, John’s widow Evelyn, married David H. Lewin in the Barrow upon Soar registration district, they resided at 25, Havelock Cottages, Thurmaston, Leicester. His elder brother Alfred fell in action.