BROOKS, F/L Hubert (J94368) - Military Cross - No.419 Squadron - Awarded as per London Gazette of 8 October 1946. Born in Alberta, 29 December 1921, home in Montreal. Enlisted in Montreal, 14 August 1940; commissioned 1944. Trained at No.1 AOS (graduated 25 May 1941), No.1 BGS (graduated 5 July 1941) and No.1 ANS (graduated 18 August 1941). Shot down and taken prisoner, 9 April 1942. Award presented by Governor General at Government House, 14 November 1950. Photo PL-50468 shows him with his mother and his wife after investiture. Served in the post-war RCAF and was added to the RCAF Flyers hockey team to compete in the 1948 Olympics. With a 6-0-1 record, the Flyers defeated the Swiss team 3-0 to win the Olympic gold medal. Two days later, Brooks married his Danish sweetheart, Birthe Grontved in St. Moritz, Austria with Barbara Anne Scott (Olympic gold medal skater) as the maid of honour and Dr. Sandy Watson, coach of the flyers as best man Died in Ottawa, 1 February 1984. On 8th April 1942, Flight Lieutenant Brooks was navigator/bomb aimer of a Wellington aircraft, detailed to attack Hamburg. Prior to reaching the target, the aircraft caught fire and had to be abandoned. Flight Lieutenant Brooks landed near Oldenburg. Despite an injury to his knee, he disposed of his parachute and attempted to evade capture. Eventually his injuries caused so much pain that he was compelled to seek assistance and in doing so, was handed over to the German authorities. He was taken to a prisoner of war camp at Lamsdork on 16th April 1942, and remained there till 10th May 1943. During this time, Flight Lieutenant Brooks made two unsuccessful attempts to escape and finally in May 1943, he succeeded in getting away to join Polish partisans with whom he remained until liberated by Russian forces in January 1945. The first escape entailed cutting the barbed wire on the hut window and also the wire of a double fence, brilliantly lighted and patrolled by guards. Flight Lieutenant Brooks and a companion succeeded in doing this and were travelling towards Gracow, moving by night and existing on food saved from Red Cross parcels, when they were recaptured owing to information given by pro-German Poles. After a long interrogation, Flight Lieutenant Brooks was placed in solitary confinement for fourteen days and, when this was over, had to go to hospital as his feet had been badly blistered. On 10th September 1942, Flight Lieutenant Brooks made his second bid for freedom, escaping this time with five other prisoners from the top story of a building despite the armed guard on the ground floor. He walked to Lunenburg and successfully concealed himself on a train to Vienna where he was again arrested. While en route to another prisoner of war camp, Flight Lieutenant Brooks was confined in a dug-out for eight days and was severely beaten by a German non-commissioned officer for trying to escape. On arrival at the camp, he was put in solitary confinement for fourteen days. Finally in November 1942, Flight Lieutenant Brooks was sent to work at a sawmill at Tost. While there he planned an escape but details became known to the Germans and he was warned that he would be shot if any attempt was made. Undeterred, this officer revised his plans. He made several useful contacts with Poles outside the camp and obtained civilian clothing and maps. On 10th May 1943, he and a sergeant cut through the window bars and escaped. They successfully evaded all efforts to capture them and reached Czectochowa where they remained hidden till January 1945. Throughout the whole period, Flight Lieutenant Brooks showed great determination. He was not dismayed, or deterred from attempting to escape by punishments or hardships and even when he knew he was a marked man, he continued to make further plans and efforts to escape. At the time of his investiture a shorter text: This officer was shot down while on bomber operations in April 1942. After safely parachuting and evading capture, painful injuries compelled him to seek assistance which resulted in his falling into the hands of the German authorities. Subsequent to his capture he twice unsuccessfully attempted to escape, resulting in recapture and consequent severe punishment and solitary confinement on both occasions. After other abortive attempts at escape, and being told he would be shot, he finally successfully eluded his captors and evaded all efforts to effect his recapture. From May 1943 to January 1945 he fought with the underground fores in the cause of the Allies. Throughout the whole period, despite the many dismaying adversities he encountered, Flight Lieutenant Brooks displayed endurance, determination and courage of the highest qualities. BROOKS, P/O Hubert (J94368) - Mention in Despatches - No.419 Squadron - Award effective 1 January 1946 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 388 dated 12 April 1946. NOTE: On 27 April 1945 at St.Hubert he applied for operational wings. AFHQ examined the request and declined to grant them. The DHist card carried notation, \"Has undoubtedly done commendable work in the line of duty but unfortunately he has insufficient number of air operations against the enemy.\" Clipping in file notes he had lived eight years in Ottawa (to age of 12) before going to Montreal. Described by his sister Doris as \"too full of the devil for the Nazis to hold.\" DHist cards also indicate that he was awarded the Polish Cross of Valour and Polish Silver Cross of Merit with Swords (authority given as C-J94368 DPC dated 15 October 1947). There is no AFRO, Canada Gazette or London Gazette entry to confirm this, and Government House Chancellery Division has no record of the awards. Did the Poles bestowe them and Canadian authorities decline or forget to acknowledge these honours ? The answer, found in his documents, is a fascinating study of political and diplomatic protocol blended with common sense. The following documents speak for themselves: 1. Undated document signed by P.1961, F/O W. Schoffer, RAF: I certify that P/O Brooks has been known to me since 3rd September 1944, through reports from his Unit, and personally known to me since 22nd November 1944, when he came directly under my command. Brooks was promoted to the rank of acting Pilot Officer in the Polish Home Army in 1943, from which time he was put in command of a Platoon in the distract of Krakow. Throughout the time he served as an officer with the Polish Home Army he showed great courage and outstanding ability as a leader. Brooks was responsible for selecting suitable landing grounds in the Nony Sacz, Myslenice and Bochnia areas for aircraft sent from Italy to Poland. He was also responsible for the security and welfare of seventeen British and American soldiers and airmen who were under the protection of the Polish Home Army. Brooks took part in many ambushes and attacks on the Germans. Polish Headquarters in London are in possession of my full report regarding Brooks. 2. Documents issued by Polish General Staff, London, 28 March 1945 includes the following: Certificate issued to P/O H. Brooks by the Commanding Officer of the Nowy Sacz District, 20th January 1945. \"I hereby certify that P/O H. Brooks took an active part in fighting the Germans on Polish territory, being attached to a Partisan Unit of the Polish Home Army. The above mentioned officer has distinguished himself, showing outstanding courage and has proved himself to be an excellent soldier. P/O Brooks has been awarded the Cross of Valour. This has not yet been presented to him owing to prevailing difficulties in the Field.\" (signed) Borowy, Major 3. Letter, 3 February 1947, S/L J.M. Enstone (Chief Liaison Officer, RCAF Overseas Headquarters) to DND re Brooks with many appendices as follows: APPENDIX \"A\" EXTRACT FROM LETTER DATED 10TH DECEMBER 1946 The Provisional Polish Government in Warsaw have recently protested about the issue of Polish decorations except under their authority. Group Captain Bohuszewicz, who signed the certificate produced in support of the application for permission to accept the awards for Flight Lieutenant Brooks, does not function under the authority of the Warsaw Government. In the circumstances it should be explained to the Canadian authorities that if an officer of the Royal Air Force were in question, we should not be able to take official cognizance of the awards, seeing that they were not referred to His Majesty\'s Government and agreed to by them before recognition was withdrawn from the former Polish Government on the 6th July 1945. APPENDIX \"B\" Letter, 28 January 1947, Major W. Klonkowski (officer in charge of Award and Decoration Section, Polish General Staff, London, to S/L J.M. Enstone, Acting Chief Liaison Officer, RCAF Overseas Headquarters: I would like to inform you that F/L H. Brooks was awarded, on January the 20th, 1945, the Polish Cross of Valour, and on January the 25th, 1945, the Silver Cross of Merit with Swords. The above awards were made by the Commander of the Polish Underground Army in Poland during F/L H. Brooks\' service there between May 1943 and 26th January 1945. When F/L H. Brooks returned to England and proved his awards by special certificates given to him by the Commander of the Underground Army, they were confirmed by the President of the Republic of Poland in Exile. The Cross of Valour was presented to F/L H. Brooks on December the 6th 1945, and the Cross of Merit with Swords on June the 6th 1946. I enclose a certificate authorising F/L H. Brooks to wear the Silver Cross of Merit with Swords. APPENDIX \"C\" Document issued by Polish General Staff, London, 6 December 1945: C E R T I F I C A T E It is certified that F/Lt. Hubert Brooks, born 29.12,1921, Alberta, Canada - has been awarded the CROSS OF VALOUR on the 20st [sic] January 1945, by the Commander of the Polish Home Army for his generous courage and bravery during his service in the Polish Underground Army from May 1943 to 26st January 1945. Stamped with crest signed W. Bohuszewicz Group Captain APPENDIX \"D\" Identity card dated 6 December 1945 and issued by Polish General Staff, noting that P/O Hubert H. Brooks is entitled to wear the Cross of Valour; further noted: \"Award published in the \"Gazette of the Personal\" [sic], No.2 dated 8 March 1946 and signed by Group Captain W/ Bohuszewicz. APPENDIX \"E\" Translation of a Polish document dated 20 January 1945. CERTIFICATE I certify that the bearer of this certificate P/O Hubert Brooks took part in engagements against the Germans on the Polish territory among the groups of the Polish Home Army / A.K./,- The above mentioned officer distinguished himself with courage and bravery and has been awarded the Cross of Valour. The decoration has not been presented because the award should be confirmed by the Government in London. (signed) Borowy, Major APPENDIX \"F\" Document dated London, 4th June 1946, from \"General Staff\" CERTIFICATE It is certified herewith, that the Commander of the Polish Home Army by order of the 20th January 1945 has conferred the SILVER CROSS OF MERIT WITH SWORDS on F/Lt Hubert Brooks for bravery during his service in the Polish Home Army in Poland from May 1943 to 26 January 1945. Stamped with crest signed W. Bohuszewicz Group Captain APPENDIX \"G\" Document issued in London, January 1947 by \"Polish General Staff\" C e r t i f i c a t e It is hereby certified that F/L H. BROOKS was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit with Swords during his service in the Polish Underground Army in Poland from May 1943 to the 26st January 1945, and is entitled to wear the above named decoration. SZTAB GLOWNY signed by W. Klonkowski, Major stamp of crest Officer in Charge of the Award and Decoration Section POLISH GENERAL STAFF 4. Memo, 19 February 1947, W/C W.A. Dicks (RCAF Records Officer) to Air Member for Personnel: Honours and Awards - Foreign Decorations J94368 F/O H. Brooks MC 1. Hereunder is correspondence received from CLO concerning Polish recognition for the a/n officer for services rendered the Polish underground forces subsequent to his escape from POW camps, Germany. 2. F/L Brooks was awarded and invested with the Polish Cross of Valour and the Polish Silver Cross of Merit by persons who, it appears, do not presently function under the Warsaw Government. From Appendix \"A\" (correspondence hereunder) it seems that the Warsaw Government has been strongly protesting regarding the issue of Polish decorations except under their authority. 3. It is pointed out that: (i) The Polish authorities did not enlist the acceptance of these awards from the RCAF. (ii) F/L Brooks received the MC for services rendered prior to and subsequent to his escape as a POW and RCAF policy dictates that a foreign gallantry award will not be accepted where the gallantry in question has been recognized by the award of a British decoration. 4. In view of the possible political embarrassment involved, it is recommended that the RCAF does not take any official cognizance of the Polish awards in question, and if you concur the CLO will be requested to inform the Central Honours Committee accordingly. 5. Memo, 1 March 1947, W/C W.A. Dicks (RCAF Records Officer) to CLO, RCAF Overseas Headquarters, London: Honours and Awards - Foreign Decorations J94368 F/O H. Brooks MC 1. In reply to your referenced correspondence, it is advised that the RCAF will not take official cognizance of the Polish awards with which the a/n officer was invested. 2. It is requested that the Central Honours Committee be advised accordingly. 6. FILE NOTE dated 17 September 1947, signed by F/L E.R. Heggtveit, EA to AMP (Campbell) - apparently not directed to anyone in particular. Honours and Awards - Foreign Decorations J94368 F/O H. Brooks MC 1. F/L Brooks was awarded the Polish Silver Cross of Merit with Swords for the services which he rendered the Polish Home Army in Poland from May 1943 to 26 January 1945. Additionally, F/L Brooks was awarded the Polish Cross of Valour on 20 January 1946 by the Commander of the Polish Home Army for the services F/L Brooks rendered the Polish underground from May 1943 to 26 January 1945. These awards were never officially offered the RCAF for acceptance. The Polish Cross of Valour was presented to F/L Brooks on 6 December 1945, and the Cross of Merit with Swords on 6 June 1946. 2. In reviewing this case, Air Ministry state that, because of the recent protests of the Provisional Polish Government in Warsaw regarding the issue of Polish decorations except under their authority, had these circumstances pertained to an RAF officer the RAF could not under the circumstances take official cognizance of the awards. This recommendation was made to D/AMP on 19 February 1947 and D/AMP concurred that the RCAF should nit take official cognizance of the awards in question. 3. AMP wishes that the decision to deny F/L Brooks authorization to wear the Polish decorations with which he was invested be reconsidered on D/AMP\'s return from leave. 4. If D/AMP concurs, AMP has suggested that inasmuch as the awards in question pertain to gallantry, we will have the CLO accept these awards on behalf of the RCAF and accordingly promulgate in Supplement to AFROs and F/L Brooks will be given authorization to wear the ribbons in question. 7. Memo dated 15 October 1947: A/V/M Hugh Campbell (AMP) to AMAP (Morfee): Honours and Awards - Foreign Decorations J94368 F/O H. Brooks MC 1. The m/n officer who was recently taken on strength of this HQ, and posted to your Division for duty, was awarded the Polish Silver Cross of Merit with Swords and the Polish Cross of Valour for meritorious services rendered the Polish underground forces subsequent to having escaped from German custody as a prisoner of war. 2. It will be observed from the folios in this file that official RCAF recognition of these awards was withheld from this officer, even though the awards were confirmed by the President of the Republic of Poland and F/O Brooks had been invested with the actual insignia. This course of action was taken because of the complicated political picture in the country concerned and the attitude adopted towards this subject by the British authorities due to the unstable nature of the government in question. 3. It will be noted at flagged folio \"A\", however, this HQ has taken cognizance of these awards by virtue of having F/O Brooks\' records annotated accordingly, although no promulgation action in either the Canada Gazette or AFROs was taken. On reviewing the whole case, it has been decided that our previous ruling in this case should now be interpreted as granting permission for this officer to wear the ribbons of these awards on Service uniform in addition to the recording action taken, but as in the first instance, no promulgation action will be undertaken at the present time. 4. In view of the above, may F/O Brooks be informed that permission to wear the ribbons of the Polish decorations in question is granted. Public Record Office WO 208/3326 has his MI.9 report based on interview of 19 April 1945. He had been captured near Leer (9 April 1942), finally escaped at Tost (10 May 1943), left Odessa on 7 March 1945 and arrived in Britain on 19 March 1945. Other members of his crew had been P/O Creighton (RCAF, pilot, last heard of in Stalgag Luft III), Flight Sergeant W.R. McWilliam (second pilot, POW, last heard of on march near Gorlitz), Flight Sergeant Paton (wireless operator, RCAF, last heard of on march near Gorlitz), Flight Sergeant W. C. Parker (front gunner, RCAF, last heard of on march near Gorlitz) and Flight Sergeant E.R. Howard (rear gunner, RCAF, killed in crash). The aircraft was Wellington X3467. 1. CAPTURE: We took off in a Wellington aircraft from Mildenhall about 2100 hours on 8 April 1942 to bomb Hamburg. On approaching the target the starboard engine caught fire and all efforts to extinguish the fire failed. The bombs were jettisoned and shortly afterwards the port engine also burst into flames. We were then ordered to bale out. I landed in a field close to a farm house about two miles north of Oldenburg (Germany, 1:250,000, Sheet X 54, R 3205) and injured my knee on landing (about 010 hours 9 April 1942. I tore my parachute canopy into strips and hid the harness, etc. I then started walking in a north-westerly direction and at about 0800 hours arrived on the outskirts of Leer (Q 8115). Due to my injured knee I was unable to walk any further so approached a house where I asked for help. The occupant called the police and shortly afterwards I was escorted to the local police station by a civil policeman and a soldier. In the afternoon I was taken in a police car to Police Headquarters in Oldenburg. Here I met the remainder of my crew with the exception of P/O Howard whom the Germans stated was killed in the crash of the aircraft. We were then taken to a German Air Force airfield on the outskirts of Oldenburg. Here we were searched and had our personal belongings - watches, lighter, etc - confiscated. We were questioned by a German Air Force Hauptmann who threatened and shouted at us for about an hour. We were then placed in the Detention Barracks where we remained until about 1500 hours on 10 April when we were taken to the railway station. Accompanied by two officers and three guards we went by train to Dulag Luft, arriving in the afternoon of 11 April. We were each put into a separate cell, stripped to the skin, and after about half an hour had our clothes returned to us. They found our special fly buttons and collar studs but I managed to retain a compass which I kept in my mouth. We were then taken to the interrogation centre and given the bogus Red Cross form. The interrogator told us that mess bills and a 1250 had been found in Howard\'s clothing, from which he had estabished our squadron\'s number and our base. He appearded to be most interested in Group Captain Evans-Evans, our base commander. We maintained that we had never heard of him. We remained at Dulag Luft for two more days, then went to Lamsdorf, P/O Creighton going to Sagan. We arrived in Lamsdorf about the 16 April, after a rail journey which took three days. 2. CAMPS IN WHICH IMPRISONED: Dulag Luft (Wetzlar), 11 April 1942 (for a few days) Stalag VIIIB (Lamsdorf), 16 April 1942 to 10 May 1943. Working Camps attached to Stalag Luft VIIIB Bobrek (on Polish frontier), June 1942 Zweitean (Sudetenland), September 1942 Tost, 10 November 1942 to 10 May 1943. 3. ATTEMPTED ESCAPES: (a) First Attempted Escape: On about 28 May, after learning something about the camp routine etc., I changed my identity with a Private in the New Zealand Army. Under this assumed name I went out of the camp with a Pole named Joseph Krawiec on a working party. We were sent to Bobrek about three kilometres from the Polish frontier and went to work in a coal mine. On the night of 8 June a heavy storm was raging and I decided that it would be a good opportunity to get out. The camp in which we were billeted was surrounded by two barbed wire fences with flood lights at each of the four corners. The windows of our huts were also covered with barbed wire. There was only one gate with an armed guard on the gate and another guard who patrolled the perimeter between the two fences. Private Cross, an Irishman in my room, elected to make the attempt with me and we had been saving up biscuits, chocolate, butter and cheese from Red Cross parcels. I had managed to steal a pair of pliers from the coal pit. Shortly before midnight we got our kit of food, etc. ready and cut the barbed wire on the window with the pliers. At midnight the night shift returned to camp from the mine and it was the custom of the guard patrolling the perimeter to go to the gate to assist the gate guard in checking the POWs into the camp. While he was doing this we got out of the window, cut our way through the wire of the first fence at a point as far from the gate as possible and in shadow. We jumped over the second fence and ran down the embankment of the railway which ran past the camp. We followed the line for a short distance in a south-easterly direction, then made our way across country to the main highway leading to Krakow. We made our way along the roads by night, sleeping during the day. We rationed our supply of food to six biscuits and butter or cheese and one small piece of chocolate per 24 hours. Travelling thus we arrived at Krakow (Germany 1:250,000, Sheet Q 51, Z 24) about 16 June. I went to a house for food where unfortunately the Polish occupants were pre-German. They got the police and we were taken to the station, where we remained in a cell until the following morning. From here we went to Gestapo headquarters where we were questioned and then sent to a POW camp which was just being started on the outskirts of the city and contained about 200 Russians. We were here for three days and I made several attempts to get out via lavatory windows without success. We were then sent back to Lamsdorf where we got 14 days solitary confinement on bread and water as a punishment. After being released from solitary confinement I was returned to the working party compound, but as I had blistered my feet badly while at liberty I had to report sick and was in the camp hospital for a month and a half. While in the hospital I met Wing Commander Bader. He had been out on a working party with six other airmen all posing as Privates and had made an unsuccessful attempt to escape. (b) Second Attempted Escape: I remained in camp for about three weeks after discharge from the hospital, then got out on another working party. This time ten of us went to Zwitean in the Sudetenland to reinforce a party working there on the railway. We arrived on 8 September and were billeted in a two-storey house with the guards on the ground floor. On 10 September I managed to steal a hacksaw and while the boys sang and made a row I cut the bars on the window. Our trousers and boots were taken from us each evening and locked in a small room leading off our sleeping quarters. We got the hinges of the door of this room, got our trousers and boots and went out of the window on a rope made out of blankets Six of us escaped, leaving in pairs. I went with Corporal Joseph Sidi, a Jew. We walked to Lunenburg, about 30 miles south of Brun (Germany 1:250,000, Sheet N 49, U 41). Here we went to the marshalling yards and got on a coal train bound for Vienna. On the outskirts of Vienna we left the train and spent the day hiding in the woods. We then decided to go to Italy and returned to the marshalling yards at about 2130 hours. After spending about half an hour looking for a suitable train we found one loaded with lumber bound for Trieste. We shifted the lumber in one of the cars, making a hideout just big enough for the two of us to squeeze into. About midnight a yard engine shunted us about the yards making up a train. After the train was made up it was shunted to an illuminated part of the yard and inspected. The inspector apparently had his suspicions aroused by the timber we had shifted as he shifted it back and found us. We were arrested by railway police and taken to their cells. From here we went to the local police headquarters and then to a French POW camp about 80 kilometres south of Vienna at a place called Mannerstadt. This camp contained a large number of French, Poles and Serbians. We were confined in a sort of dugout with a barred door for eight days. I tried to get out of here but was caught loosening the bars by a guard. He summoned an NCO who beat us for attempting to escape. We were then sent back to Lamsdorf and served another 14 days solitary confinement. 4. FINAL ESCAPE: Shortly after being released from prison I got on another working party. This time on 10 November 1942 I was sent to Tost (Sheet Q 51, Y 29) to work in a saw mill. I was accompanied by Sergeant Duncan [MI.9 report SPG (G) 2951], 51st Highland Division, and we planned to escape from the working party together. On our arrival we were warned by a Feldwebel that he knew that Sergeant Duncan, myself and five others were planning to escape and if we attempted it we would be shot. As a result of this we were specially watched. Obviously information was leaking out and by 15 December we had established without doubt that two British POWs were giving the Germans all the information that they could get. We beat them up and told them that if they did not report sick we would take more stringent measures. They reported sick and returned to Lamsdorf. About 10 January 1943 there was some trouble with the Mill boss and most of the POWs went on strike, with the result that 14 were sent back to Lamsdorf and were replaced by 14 Canadians captured at Dieppe. Sergeant Duncan was put in charge of us and I got myself a job as a lorry driver. I left the mill daily, delivering lumber to places in the vicinity. This enabled me to get a good idea of the geography of the district and make a few contacts with the Poles. I managed this by putting dirt in the carburettor and each time the engine stalled, which was quite frequently, I told the guard that I would get help from the Polish civilians to start the lorry again. About this time I was again warned not to attempt an escape and we became suspicious of another British POW whom we believed was acting as an informant, but we were never able to catch him. As a result of my numerous breakdowns with the lorry I had managed to get and conceal two large maps of Europe and four 1/4-inch maps of the Tost district. We had also accumulated a good supply of Red Cross biscuits, chocolate, etc., a hacksaw blade and some spare clothes which we stole from the camp stores. On 10 May with this gear made up into two bundles, Sergeant Duncan and I sawed the bars off the window of our room and got away. We travelled by night, slept by day, walking along the highway. We went to Langendorf (Sheet P 51, H 83), from here to Lubliniec, from here to Herby (Sheet Q 51, T 83) and from there to Czestochowa (T 63), Poland. In Czestochowa we contacted a member of the Polish underground on about 15 May 1943 at an address given me by a Polish airman at Lamsdorf. From this date onwards I remained with the Polish underground until the arrival of Russian troops. I embarked at Odessa aboard the SS Moreton Bay on 7 March 1945 and arrived in the United Kingdom on 19 March.