locket

A gold metal locket in the shape of a heart with a small star engraved on the obverse which is inset with a small clear crystal, inside the locket is space for two heart-shaped photographs.

Gold locket and bible associated with Private John Brooks of the East Lancashire Regiment, who died on 28 March 1918 aged 26 in Frévent, France. John was a clerk at a mill in Great Harwood, Lancashire and gave the locket to his fiancée Sarah Storey. She treasured these items throughout her life.

Locket and bible (EPH 10561) belonging to the donor's great aunt's fiancé, Private John Brooks, who died aged 26 on the 28th March 1918 in a hospital in Frévent and buried at the nearby St. Hilaire Cemetery. The locket and bible were handed down through the family to the donor with the following story: "Sarah Storey had always dreamt of being a wife and mother as any young girl does but, as the years passed, she never met anyone to make her life complete and was resigned to the fact that she would be an 'old maid'. Then she met John Brooks, a handsome young man. He was a clerk at a commercial mill in Great Harwood, Lancashire, a regular church goer. They fell madly in love and spent as much time as they could together. They made plans for the future, marriage and a family. Sarah was 5 years older than John so they planned to get married as soon as possible because they wanted to start a family. They were so very happy. Then, before they could marry, John was called up to fight. Sarah was devastated. They thought they had all the time in the world, but had no time at all. She went with him to the station to wave him goodbye. They were both in tears. He promised her he would return. and would marry and live happily ever after. He gave her a gold locket and he told her that he was leaving his heart with her and he would always be with her. He was sent to Scotland (and) then to France in 1916 with the 11th Battalion East Lancs Regiment (where) he saw 18 months active service. John died on March 28 1918 in hospital aged 26 in Frevent France. He was among those who fell in the gallant resistance to the big German offensive. Sarah was devastated. She lived the rest of her life as a 'spinster' in seclusion and died of a broken heart in 1950, aged 63. All she had of John was the memories the bible he carried with him in battle and his heart (the locket)."