Basil Brooke (Royal Navy officer, born 1882)

Basil Brooke
Born	28 November 1882
Died	8 October 1929 (aged 46) Ambleside, Lancashire
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1898–1922
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	First World War
Awards	Distinguished Service Order & Bar Mentioned in Despatches Legion of Honour (France)

Captain Basil Richard Brooke DSO & Bar (28 November 1882 – 8 October 1929) was a Royal Navy officer.

Brooke was the son of John Townshend Brooke of Haughton Hall, Shifnal, Shropshire, and his wife Lady Wilhelmina, daughter of William Legge, 4th Earl of Dartmouth. He was educated at Arnold House,^[1] Llanddulas, and entered HMS Britannia as a naval cadet in 1898. He was promoted midshipman later the same year, commissioned sub-lieutenant in November 1901,^[2] and promoted lieutenant in December 1903^[3] and lieutenant commander in 1911.

Brooke served throughout the First World War in the Mine Clearance Force, being promoted commander in 1916 and awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in July 1917^[4] and a Bar in January 1920.^[5] He was also appointed a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur in September 1916.^[6] Both his brothers were killed in the war while serving in the British Army.

Brooke retired in July 1922,^[7] and was promoted captain on the retired list in November 1927.^[8] In 1923 he married Katherine Cross, granddaughter of the politician R. A. Cross, 1st Viscount Cross. He retired to Ambleside, Lancashire.^[9]

Honours and awards

• 1 January 1916 Lieutenant-Commander Basil Richard Brooke was commended in recognition for their bravery and duty during mine-sweeping and mine-laying operations.^[10]
• 15 September 1916 Lieutenant-Commander Basil Richard Brooke was appointed a Croix de Chavalier by the President of the French Republic in recognition of services during the war.^[11]
• 2 July 1917 Captain Basil Richard Brooke, RN, was appointed a Companion to the Distinguished Service Order in recognition of his service in mine-sweeping operations between 1 July 1916 and 31 March 1917.^[12]
• 22 January 1920 Captain Basil Richard Brooke, DSO, RN, was awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Service Order for service in the mine clearance force.^[13]

Footnotes

1. http://www.llanddulashiddenhistory.co.uk/arnold.htm
2. The London Gazette: no. 27539. p. 2145. 31 March 1903.
3. The London Gazette: no. 27632. p. 26. 1 January 1904.
4. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30159. p. 6519. 29 June 1917.
5. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31748. p. 949. 20 January 1920.
6. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29751. p. 9081. 15 September 1916.
7. The London Gazette: no. 32736. p. 5864. 8 August 1922.
8. The London Gazette: no. 33334. p. 7742. 2 December 1927.
9. The London Gazette: no. 33574. p. 604. 28 January 1930.
10. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29423. p. 87. 1 January 1916. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
11. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29751. p. 9081. 15 September 1916. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
12. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30159. p. 6519. 2 July 1917. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
13. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31748. p. 949. 22 January 1920. Retrieved 29 December 2015.

References

• Obituary, The Times, 9 October 1929
• Biography, Who Was Who