Frederick Brooks, or ‘Freddie’ as he was known, was born in St Giles, Reading in March of 1881. Employed as a general labourer, he was originally enlisted to the 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment, but later transferred to the 4th Battalion then 6th Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

He saw service in France and Flanders from 1st Sept 1917, and was awarded both the British War and Long Service and Good Conduct medals in October of the same year. He was severely wounded by gunshot to both legs on the 30th November 1917, and was discharged on the 1st October 1920 to a pension of 4 shillings per day.

Brooks was part of the Oxon Buck band, and we hold both his flute and his piccolo (pictured) in our collections. The green button (pictured) is most likely from a lapel, and the tie (pictured) is of OBLI regimental colours.