| Samuel H Crooks was listed on Panel One of the World War One memorial in Coagh Orange Hall to those who served.
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| Although we know that three Crooks brothers served with the Ulster Division and were injured, we only know the names of two of them – Samuel and John. James is NOT thought to be a brother.
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| Samuel Henry Crooks was the son of Thomas and Jane Crooks. Thomas Crooks and Jane Anderson were married on 1st September 1892 in the district of Cookstown.
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| Samuel Henry Crooks was born about 1893 in the Coagh area. He was one of at least four children, all boys.
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| Known family: Thomas Crooks, Jane Crooks, Samuel Henry Crooks (born about 1893), John Crooks (born about 1895), Thomas Crooks (born about 1897), Joseph Crooks (born about 1900).
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| The 1901 census lists Sam H as age 8, living with the family at house 9 in Edernagh, Coagh, County Tyrone. His father was a farm labourer.
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| Samuel’s father, Thomas Crooks, died on 31st August 1903 in the Coagh area, aged 33.
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| The 1911 census does not list Samuel as living with the family at house 5 in Tullyveagh, Red Row Village, Coagh. His mother was a widow. She was working as a ‘lawn wearer’, Thomas was the only son still living with her.
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| Samuel Crooks joined the army around 1913.
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| Gunner Samuel Henry Crooks served with the Royal Garrison Artillery. He was a gunner in the 86th Trench Mortar Battery.
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| Gunner Crooks went to the front on May 1915. He took part in the Battle of Loos.
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| In December 1915, he returned home from France on leave to his mother, who was by then residing in Drapersfield.
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| Gunner Samuel Henry Crooks had two brothers with the Ulster Division. All his male relatives of military age had joined the army by the end of 1915.
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| Fro40645m the Mid Ulster Mail dated 4th December 1915: Gunner Crooks Home
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| Gunner S H Crooks, Royal Garrison Artillery, whose mother resides at Drapersfield, is home from France on a few days leave. He joined the army about two years ago, and has been in the fighting line since May. A gunner in the 86th Trench Mortar Battery, he was in the thick of things at Loos, where he says he lost his cap in the advance, but compensated himself by picking up one from beside a dead officer, which served for the time being. Asked if the trench mortar fighting was not unusually dangerous, he laughingly replied that they were always in the front trenches and were known as the suicide club. The danger, however, was part of the day’s work. Gunner Crooks, who looks in splendid health and spirits, has two brothers in the Ulster Division, and all his male relatives of military age have joined the army. He says a lot of his young companions in and around Cookstown are long of joining, but please God, they’ll come soon with the word ‘conscript’ on their tunic, and it will serve them right. He goes back to the front on Tuesday.
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| A report from September 1917 states that Gunner Crooks had been wounded. In fact, all three brothers were now in hospital, suffering from wounds received.
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| From the Belfast Newsletter dated 17th September 1917:
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| Gunner Samuel H Crooks, Royal Garrison Artillery, wounded, is a son of Mrs Anderson, Littlebridge, County Tyrone, who has two other boys in hospital, suffering from wounds.
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