Private Rook served with the 6th Royal Went Kent Regiment during the first world war. He was educated in Orpington and was a ‘zealous and useful’ member of the Baptist Church at Green-Street-Green.
In January 1916, it was reported in the local newspaper (Bromley Times) that he had been severely wounded at La Bassee, making it necessary to amputate the right leg just below the knee.
The newspaper reports reads:
Private Herbert Bramwell Rook is the son of Mrs Rook, of 3 Chelsfield Terrace, Green-Street-Green.
As a lad he went to school at Orpington, and until joining the 6th Royal West Kent Regiment a few months after the outbreak of war, he was a zealous and useful member of the Baptist Church as Green-Street-Green.
It was while in an engagement near La Bassee that he was severely wounded, making it necessary to amputate the right leg just below the knee.
In Brighton Hospital he is making slow but sure progress towards recovery, where another slight operation has to be performed.. Fortunately, his strong constitution has enabled him to overcome the severe effects of his terrible injury.
Source:
Bromley & District Times, 14th January 1914 (page 4)
