Allan Brooks

Illustration by A Brooks of a Band-tailed pigeon

Allan Cyril Brooks (February 15, 1869 Etawah – January 3, 1946) was an ornithologist and bird artist who lived in Canada.

He went to school in England (1873–1881) and studied the bird life of the Northumberland moors. He interacted with Henry Seebohm and learnt egg-collection and butterfly collection from John Hancock. He later studied the birds of Ontario where his father William Edwin Brooks had settled to a farming life. His father named him after his close friend and ornithological associate Allan Octavian Hume.

He became a distinguished bird artist and illustrated Taverner's Birds of Western Canada (1926) and Birds of Canada (1934).

He was also recruited during World War I and served with the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion. He was awarded with a Distinguished Service Order.

For conspicuous gallantry in the operations of 2nd and 3rd September in front of Arras. As brigade observing officer he showed great daring and initiative, pushing forward at all times with the most advanced troops under the heaviest fire. Taking a wire with him, he kept brigade headquarters well informed of the situation, and enabled the commander to make decisions that saved many lives. When the enemy were retiring he pushed forward over 500 yards in front of the infantry and telephoned back information from a long distance in front of our advance. During the two days he personally killed twenty of the enemy by sniping shots.

References

• Brooks, Marjorie. (1938). "Allan Brooks: A Biography". The Condor 40(1):12–17.
• Laing, Hamilton M. "Allan Brooks, 1896–1946". The Auk 64.
• Winearls, Joan. (2008). "Allan Brooks, Naturalist and Artist (1869–1946): The Travails of an Early Twentieth Century Wildlife Illustrator in North America". Scientia Canadensis. 31 (1–2). Canada: 131–54. ISSN 0829-2507. PMID 19569391. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |laysummary=, |laydate=, |month=, and |laysource= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)

External links

• Comox Archives and Museum
• Vernon Public Art Gallery
• Major Allan Brooks of Okanagan Landing by Jean Webber, Royal British Columbia Museum Living Landscapes project