William John Brooks was the son of James and Margaret Brooks. He was born on 5th July 1892 at Derrynoid, Draperstown. The family were farmers. William moved to Canada. William John Brooks enlisted on 11th January 1916 in Toronto. William had been living at 29 Wyndham Street, Toronto. He had been working as a driver. He gave his next of kin as Margaret Brooks, his mother who was still living in Derrynoid.
Private William John Brooks was serving with the 15th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry when he was killed in action in France and Flanders on 1st September 1918, just over a month before the war ended. He was 28 years old. It is believed Private William John Brooks won his Military Medal for his work on the day he died.
Hendecourt-les-Cagnicourt is 16 kilometres south-east of Arras and 4 kilometres south of the Arras-Cambrai main road. Dominion Cemetery is 2.5 kilometres north-east of Hendecourt-les-Cagnicourt, in fields reached by a track signposted off the road (the D956) between Hendecourt and the main Arras to Cambrai road (the D939).
