Frederick-John Brooks

Frederick-John Brooks (1875-1954)

C Coy 1st Batt. Dublin Brigade

Frederick Brooks was born in 1875 and resided at 426 N.C.R. Dublin. Married, with two sons and two daughters at the time of the Rising, he worked as a compositor. He was a member of C Coy 1st Batt. Dublin Brigade. Mobilised on Easter Monday morning by Peadar Clancy, he called for a companion, probably George Levins. On their way to Colmcille Hall they met Sean Heuston with some of D Coy at the top of Temple Street. They fell in and went with them to Liberty Hall where Connolly ordered them to the Mendicity Institution on Usher’s Island. He remained in the Mendicity as a combatant and medical officer until the surrender on Wednesday. He was taken prisoner and held in Arbour Hill before being court-martialled at Richmond Barracks. Following trial he was sent to Kilmainham to await verdict and sentence. While there, he was taken from his cell early on the morning of the 8th of May to hear the shots as Seán Heuston was executed. On 6th May he was found guilty and sentenced to death – this was commuted to 3 years penal servitude. After sentencing, he was moved to Mountjoy to await transportation. He was sent, first to Portland Jail the 11th of May and later, to Lewes for the remainder of his imprisonment

Released in June 1917 in the general amnesty, he re-joined his Brigade as a combatant and a First Aid Instructor. He served throughout the War of Independence and took the Anti-Treaty side in the Civil War and saw action in the Four Courts. His wife, Catherine, died in 1921, and in 1928, he married Christina Stafford who had served with Cumann na mBan in the GPO garrison during Easter week, and also took part in the Civil War. She died in April 1950.

Frederick John Brooks died on the 21st of December, 1954 and was buried at Glasnevin Cemetery.

Frederick-John Brooks (1875-1954)

Complacht ‘C’, 1ú Cathlán, Briogáid Átha Cliath

Rugadh Frederick i 1875 agus bhí cónaí air ar an gCuarbhóthar Thuaidh i mBaile Átha Cliath. Fear pósta le beirt mac agus beirt iníon ag am an Éirí Amach, bhí sé fostaithe mar chló-eagraí. Tar éis do Pheadar Clancy é a shlógadh maidin Luain Cásca, chuir seisean fios ar chara eile leis (George Levins?).  Ar an mbealach dóibh go Halla Cholmcille, casadh buíon de Chomplacht D, faoi cheannas Sheáin Heuston, orthu i Sráid Temple. D’imigh an bheirt in éineacht leo siúd go Halla na Saoirse, áit a thug an Conghaileach ordú do’n buíon dul go hInstitiúid an Déirceachais ar Oileán Uiséir. Rinne said amhlaidh agus bhí Frederick ann mar throdaire agus oifigeach gharchabhrach araon go dtí go rabh orthu géilleadh ar an gCéadaoin. Tógadh to Cnoc an Arbhair ar dtús é, agus ansin go Dún Richmond chun é a chur ós comhair Chúirt Airme. Tar éis seo, tógadh to Príosún Chill Mhaighneáin é le fanacht ar an mbreith. Ar an 6ú Bealtaine, ciontaíodh é, agus cuireadh daorbhreith báis air. Go luath ar maidin an 8ú Bealtaine tógadh amach as a chillín é chun an lámhach a chloisteáil agus Seán Heuston á chur chun báis. Laghdaíodh an daorbhreith báis a bhí air go tréimhse trí bliaina  pian-seirbhíse agus cuireadh go Phríosún Muinseo é ar feadh seal roimh dó a sheoladh go Sasana. Cuireadh go Príosún Portland é ar dtús, agus ansin go Lewes, áit a chaith sé an chuid eile dá thréimhse phríosúnachta.

Scaoileadh saor é i Mí Meithimh 1917 mar chuid de mhaithiúntas ginearálta agus d’fhill sé ar a Bhriogáid féin, áit ina raibh sé gníomhach mar throdaire agus mar theagascóir garchabhrach go dtí deireadh Chogaidh na Saoirse. D’imigh sé in éadan na Conartha i 1922 agus throid sé ‘sna Ceithre Cúirteanna. Fuair a chéile, Catherine, bás i 1921, agus i 1928, phós sé Christina Stafford, ball de Cumann na mBan a bhí páirteach in Éirí Amach na Cásca i nGarastún Ard Oifig an Phoist, agus sa Chogadh Chathartha chomh maith. Cailleadh Christina ar 27ú Aibreán 1950.

Cailleadh Frederick John Brooks ar 21ú Nollag 1954, agus adhlacadh é i Reilig Ghlas Naíon.