| John 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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| John 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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| John Crooks was born 16th July 1895 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 16th July 1895), Thomas Crooks (born about 1897), Joseph Crooks (born 13th January 1900).
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| The 1901 census lists John as age 6, living with the family at house 9 in Edernagh, Coagh, County Tyrone. His father was a farm labourer.
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| John’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 John 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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| The 1911 census lists a John Crooks, age 16, living at house 3 in Tullyveagh. He was employed as a farm servant with the Ferguson family.
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| The report below states that Gunner Samuel H Crooks had two brothers in the Ulster Division. These brothers are thought to be John Crooks and James Crooks as these are the only two Crooks listed on the World War One memorial in Coagh Orange Hall.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 4th December 1915: Gunner Crooks Home (Samuel Crooks – Brother of John Crooks)
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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 in the Belfast Newsletter from 1917 states that three brothers were wounded and in hospital.
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| From the Belfast Newsletter dated 17th September 1917: (Samuel Crooks – Brother of John Crooks)
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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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| Strangely, none of the three are listed in the History of Coagh booklet in the ‘Those That Served’ section.
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