HEROIC AUCKLANDER.
KILLED IN SAVING OTHERS.
A letter received by Mrs A. E. Brookes, of Mount Albert, from Lieut. Colonel F. B. Sykes, D.R.A., officer commanding the second brigade, New Zealand Field Artillery, gives particulars of the circumstances in which her son, Lieut. E. M. Brookes, met his death at the front. The facts were that a shell burst in the bore or at the muzzle of a gun, and set alight the cartridges in the gun-pit. "The detachment," says Colonel Sykes, "evacuated the pit, but found that two men had been knocked out, and were still in the pit. Your son and four men at once went up to extricate these men, and to put out the fire. One man was got out, when the shells in the pit and in other pits near detonated. I very much regret to say that your son, Capt. Daniell, and three men were killed instantaneously.''
Lieutenant-Colonel Sykes adds "I feel the loss of your son and Captain Daniell very much, personally, as both were in the second battery with me on leaving New Zealand. Your son was with me on Plugge's Plateau, for 10 weeks, in much discomfort, and a good deal of danger. He was always cheery, and never a day sick or away from duty during the whole time. As an officer, he was showing great keenness and capability, and was doing very well. It may be some small consolation to you to know that he died gallantly, taking great risk without the slightest hesitation."
Public - Sarndra - Researcher - 4 January 2016 - Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14239, 6 March 1917, Page 3 Paperspast via National Library of New Zealand website; http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=PBH19170306.2.15.24&srpos=24&e=-------10--21----2a+e+brookes--