Born at Frettenham, Norfolk.
Enlisted at Manchester on the 20th of February 1854.
Age: 20.
Height: 5' 7"
Trade: Labourer.
Sent to the Cavalry Depot on the 9th of July 1854.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 25th of May 1855.
Discharged, "time expired", from Hamilton, Scotland, on the 8th of May 1866. Conduct: "good".
In possession of one Good Conduct badge.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol.
Lummis and Wynn state that "this man's name is not to be found on the Crimean medal rolls".
A four clasp Crimean medal, with impressed naming to "Corporal W. Brook(e)s. 4th Light Dragoons." was sold from the "G.E Carling" (Decd.) of Cheshunt, collection at a Glendining's auction on the 23rd of June 1910 and a four clasp Crimean medal and Turkish medal (both said to be with impressed naming to "Corporal W. Brookes. 4th Lt. Dragoons.") were sold from a "valuable collection" at a Glendining's auction on the 30th of April 1915.
A Turkish Crimean medal (Sardinian type) and named to "Private Wm. Brooks. 4th Light Drgns." formed part of Lot 206 in a Glendining's auction held on the 6th of June 1984.