The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1916-01-06
SAW ACTIVE SERVICE At
THE FRONT
]. II. Brooks Writes from England
and Tells OF War Experiences in
France


a letter from Bombardier J. K. Brooks
of the Artillery Division of the
Canadian Expeditonary Force which
has created a great deal of interest
among Brooks comrades in Co. +
and his friends in town. So far as
known Bombardier Brooks is the only
Skowhegan man serving on either
side in the great war. He was I'M
usually efficient and useful member of
the local militia which he joined soon
after its organization in 1913. He
was very much interested in rifle
practice and represented the company
on its rifle team at the State Shoot
He laconically mentions picking OIL
the German sniper as he used to COM
ment on bulls-eyes at 1000 yards
when he was shooting in competition
He had seen service in the regular
army before enlisting in the National
Guard. so it is not strange that he
was promoted to the rank of bonn
bardier soon after enlisting in the
/ Canadian forces. Sergeant Lessard
has had several letters from him
since he went over with the first
| Canadian contingent One particu-
larly interesting letter was written
while Bombardier Brooks was con-
yalescing from the effects of poison
gas attack in the trenches. He stat
ed that many of his comrades died OF
the effects before they could be res
cued by the Red Cross. while others
were rendered blind for life. Brooks
himself very fortunately made com
plete recovery. From his letters it
would appear that the soldiers of the
Allies dread the Germans gas at
lacks more than their bullets
A matter of great interest to mill
tary men in his letter is the fact that
his detachment could so readily move
the monster howitzer to the firing
line. Before the war. military au-
thorities believed that such big guns
could only be used in defending per
manent Notifications, and that they
must set in concrete foundations after
the manner of our heavy coast de-
Tense guns. But the necessities OF
war have made these monsters as mo
bile as field artillery was in the Civil
War. 1t will interest all who are
concerned with Preparedness in the
United States to know that this coun-
try does not possess a single gun OF
the character mentioned by Brooks
His letter brings the war closer to us
here in SkoWhegan. 1t would be
very fine thing If all of his acquaint-
ances here and moreover everyone
who would like to do a kindly deed
would write Bombardier Brooks a
letter and send him paper now and
then. Anything addressed to
j. r. Brooks, 85260,
9th Howitzer Brig. C. f. F.
St Martins Plain,
Kent, England
VIII be forwarded to him.
9th Howitzer Brigade, c. E. F.,
ST. Martins Plain,
} Kent, England, Dec 81, 1915
Dear Friend =
| am just back to England
again on 7 days leave. It's great to
get to a quiet place once more, and
lay down to sleep without hearing
! the doom of the signal gun, and the
= roar Stand To" Although its not
too bad at all out there with all the
guns and shells and men galore, mil
lions of them. Thank God l left the
day did, for that very next day there
was another terrible poison gas at
tack on our position. One of them
was enough for me, it pretty neal
cashed my checks, and You know
! can stand a lot.
| wish l was to be here till the
Spring comes, but no such luck. We
have been very lucky lately in oul
outfit, only lost Is men killed and AZ
, wounded in the last six weeks, one
direct hit on gun. My gun Won
our Lieutenant the Distinguished Ser
vice Order medal Dec. 7. We took
all the old auto tires and rubber We
could get hold of and strapped then
on the wheels and then man-hauled
it to the front line of infantry trench
es and commenced firing. We knock
ed down 1000 yards of trenches and
, then beat it back. Coming back d
machine gun got us for fair, killing
two drivers, a sergeant, two corpor-
ais, seven gunners and "a men out Of
the detachment, but We did the trick
| That helped me get these seven days
leave. These little stunts help Il
keep one from getting melancholy
for the common every day firing a
= an unseen enemy gets stale. IT.
a nice sight on a dark night
, have forgotten how to dodge now
lodged every time at first and caus
ed many laugh. The only rottei
( job is sentry duty, and Is done by non
{ commissioned officers. too. Tn
snipers are good shots. The earl.
mornings are sometimes very annoy
ing. for now and then single buz
or a louder spot near you just start
your eyes roaming for a sheltere'
spot love the old gun with Its biI
r wheels and shields to make for at tn
4 first streak of dawn. | was snipe
r myself the other day. | saw flasl
e. and then another on IA hill about
% thousand yards away and two sen