Robert Cyril Claude Brooks (27 January 1930 – 23 September 1944) was the youngest

Canadian soldier } The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; french: Forces armées canadiennes, ''FAC'') are the unified military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air elements referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force. ...

to die in the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. A member of the Canadian Reserve Army, Brooks was killed in a

training Training is teaching, or developing in oneself or others, any skills and knowledge or Physical fitness, fitness that relate to specific practicality, useful Competence (human resources), competencies. Training has specific goals of improving on ...

accident at the age of 14 on Prince Edward Island.

Origins and Death

Robert Brooks was the son of Eugene Ernest Brooks and Wanda Maude Brooks. He enlisted in the 17th (Reserve) Armoured Regiment (Prince Edward Island Light Horse) in early 1944, apparently without his parents' permission. Brooks was killed in a training accident near Coleman, PEI, at approximately 7:30 p.m. on 23 September 1944, when a

Universal Carrier The Universal Carrier, also known as the Bren Gun Carrier and sometimes simply the Bren Carrier from the light machine gun armament, is a common name describing a family of light armoured tracked vehicles built by Vickers-Armstrongs and other ...

was driven through a

guardrail Guard rail, guardrails, or protective guarding, in general, are a boundary feature and may be a means to prevent or deter access to dangerous or off-limits areas while allowing light and visibility in a greater way than a fence. Common shapes ...

on a bridge, overturning in the water below. Brooks was trapped beneath the overturned vehicle and drowned, along with two fellow members of the 17th (Reserve)

Armoured Regiment Armour (British English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or fr ...

Sergeant Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...

D. C. Ramsay and Trooper W.N. Dennis.

Aftermath

The Canadian Pension Commission determined that Boy Brooks' death was "related to

military service Military service is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, air forces, and naval forces, whether as a chosen job (volunteer) or as a result of an involuntary draft (conscription). Some nations (e.g., Mexico) require a ...

"; however, his parents received no pension after his death, as the Pension Commission found that "It is not considered that the parents are in a dependent condition at the present time". Brooks' father was a serving member of the

RCAF The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environme ...

, and his mother was receiving a dependent's allowance and assigned pay from her husband. Brooks is commemorated in the Canadian Virtual

War Memorial A war memorial is a building, monument, statue, or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or (predominating in modern times) to commemorate those who died or were injured in a war. Symbolism Historical usage It has ...

and was added to the Canadian Books of Remembrance in June 2018 with Sgt. Ramsay and Tpr. Dennis.

Bibliography

Notes References * - Total pages: 488 * * Canadian Army personnel of World War II 1930 births 1944 deaths People from Summerside, Prince Edward Island Canadian Army soldiers Child soldiers in World War II Canadian military personnel killed in World War II {{DEFAULTSORT:Brooks, Robert Prince Edward Island Regiment