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Wilfred Deakin Brookes CBE DSO AE (1906 - 1997)

Sir Wilfred Deakin Brookes CBE DSO AE
Born in South Yarra, Victoria, Australiamap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of and
Husband of — married 1928 in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, United Kingdommap
[children unknown]
Died at age 91 in Camberwell, Victoria, Australiamap
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Profile last modified | Created 28 Mar 2024
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Contents

Biography

Notables Project
Wilfred Brookes CBE DSO AE is Notable.

Group Captain Sir Wilfred Brookes CBE DSO AE was an Australian businessman, manufacturer and Royal Australian Air Force officer.

Victoria flag
Wilfred Brookes CBE DSO AE was born in Victoria, Australia

Wilfred Deakin Brookes was born on 17th April 1906 in South Yarra, Victoria, Australia. He was the firstborn child of Herbert Brookes, a prominent businessman and philanthropist, and Ivy Deakin, granddaughter of Australia's then second Prime Minister, Alfred Deakin and a prominent community worker and activist. [1] Wilfred was the nephew of champion tennis player, Sir Norman Brookes. The family spent their time between two homes: Winwick in South Yarra and Penola at Mount Macedon. Wilfred attended Melbourne Grammar School, South Yarra. [2]

Wilfred Brookes CBE DSO AE is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Royal Australian Sir Force 1925-1945
No.22 Squadron; No.78 Wing

He began work at the Australasian Paper and Pulp Co. Ltd. (APPM) in 1924 as a trainee cadet, aged seventeen. Shortly afterward, he commenced studies in science at the University of Melbourne. On 14th December 1925 at Point Cook, Victoria, Wilfred joined the four year-old Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)'s Citizen Air Force as an officer cadet; obtaining his 'wings' as a Pilot Officer in April 1926. [3] Subsequently, he returned to work at the paper mills as a pulp and paper technologist. [2]

In 1927 he went abroad to study paper making at Manchester University School of Technology. In 1928, whilst in the UK, he served briefly with the RAF Reserve. Wilfred met, courted and in late 1928 married Bertha 'Betty' Heal, youngest daughter of A H Heal of Oxton Hall, Birkenhead. [4] The young couple returned to Melbourne following the wedding, whereupon Wilfred resumed working for the paper mills and held a number of senior management positions including assistant superintendent of the mills. Their son Clive 'Roger' Hele was born in September 1929. [2]

During the Second World War, as a Wing Commander in 1942, he commanded the No.22 Squadron. Whilst then briefly with FS Headquarters, Wilfred was Mentioned in Despatches, equivalent to today's Commendation for Gallantry, for 'skill, resource and devotion to duty in the North-Eastern Sector'; gazetted in London on 18th December 1942 and in Canberra five days later. [5][6] Wilfred was promoted to Acting Group Captain and took charge of No.78 Wing in early 1943 until 1945. He was appointed Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO); gazetted in London on 19th October 1945 and in Canberra on 1st November. [7] He opted to place his name on the Reserve of Officers and leave the RAAF on 5th October 1945, his final posting being to RAAF Headquarters (First Tactical). [3] He was awarded the Air Efficiency Award (AE) for twenty years service as an officer in the Citizen Air Force.

Wilfred was presented his DSO medal by the Governor General at Parliament House Melbourne on 16th March 1949; his address at that time being 9 Scotsburn Grove, Toorak. [8]

In post-war Australia, Wilfred became a prominent businessman and manufacturer: [2]

  • he joined the board of APPM and from 1952 to 1978 served as chairman
  • in 1947 he was appointed a director of the board of Western Mining Corporation Ltd and also of Central Victoria Dredging.
  • in 1960 he became a director of New Coolgardie Gold Mines, which was part of the Western Mining Group
  • he served as a director of ALCOA Australia from 1961 to 1983
  • he joined the board of The Colonial Mutual Life Assurance in 1955 and became chairman in 1965
  • he joined the board of Broken Hill South in 1956 and was a director until 1980, and for a shorter period served on the Board of North Broken Hill
  • he also served as a director and chairman of the Electrolytic Refining & Smelting Company of Australia which operated as part of the Port Kembla industrial complex in NSW

He continued a proud family tradition of service to the community and the Liberal cause. He served the Liberal Party as a Trustee and Finance Committee member. [2]

Sadly, Betty passed away in 1968. [9]

Wilfred was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours 1972 'in recognition of service to Victoria and to charities'. [10] In the Queen's Birthday honours 1979, he was created Knight Bachelor 'in recognition of service to commerce and industry'. [11]

Aged 91 years, he passed away of pneumonia on 1st August 1997 in Camberwell, Victoria. He was survived by his son. [2]

Honours and awards

Wilfred deservedly received several honours and awards during his lifetime, in order of precedence:

  • Knight Bachelor
  • Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
  • Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
  • Mentioned in Despatches
  • Air Efficiency Award (AE)

Sources

  1. ↑ Victoria Birth Index #14027/1906
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Dixon, Andrew. 'Brookes, Sir Wilfred Deakin (1906–1997)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 29 Mar 2024
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: 297; 250299 Group Captain Wilfred Deakin Brookes; accessed 29 Mar 2024
  4. ↑ UK FreeBMD Marriage Index Dec qtr 1928, vol 8a, page 1067
  5. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: Mention in Despatches; accessed 29 Mar 2024
  6. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards (recommendation): Mention in Despatches; accessed 29 Mar 2024
  7. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: DSO; accessed 29 Mar 2024
  8. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards (recommendation): DSO; accessed 29 Mar 2024
  9. ↑ Victoria Death Index #
  10. ↑ Australian Honours: CBE; accessed 28 Mar 2024
  11. ↑ Australian Honours: Knight Bachelor; accessed 28 Mar 2024

See also





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Categories: South Yarra, Victoria | Melbourne Grammar School, South Yarra, Victoria | University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria | Royal Australian Air Force | Royal Australian Air Force, World War II | No. 22 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, World War II | Mentioned in Despatches | Distinguished Service Order | Commanders of the Order of the British Empire | Knights Bachelor, Elizabeth II Creation | Australia, Notables in Commerce and Industry | Notables