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Arthur James Samuel Brooks - Information

Arthur James Samuel Brooks was born in Camden on the 31st of October 1896. When he was older, he lived in Cobbitty, as his family moved to Butterfly in Mt Hunter. Arthur was working as a labourer when he decided to enlist in the AIF. He joined the colours in Sydney on the 9th of May 1918, aged 21. He commenced training at the M & D Depot in Liverpool, where he was posted to the General Service Reinforcements as a Private. Before going overseas, the townspeople of Mt Hunter showed their appreciation at a farewell social in June. Arthur was led off with a standing ovation receiving a fountain pen and wallet from the Recruiting Association. He then boarded the SS Field Marshal on the 19th of June 1918, which departed Sydney Harbour.

Onboard the vessel, Arthur reported to sick bay with trachoma, an eye infection. When the ship sailed into England and he was then admitted to the Royal Herbert Hospital in Woolwich and moved to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital. He was subsequently invalided home onboard the HMAT Runic with defective vision. When he reached Australia, he was taken to the No. 4 Australian General Hospital in Sydney. When discharged, he returned to the Camden area, where he continued to receive treatment from local Doctor F. W. West at Macaria in Camden.