Stanley “Stan” Brooker arrived in the Airdrie area in 1911 after emigrating from London, England in 1908. He was just 16 years old, but had been working as an apprentice since the age of 14. He farmed for Adam Watson, who lived west of Airdrie, until 1914 before moving into Calgary to take up work as a mechanic.
Brooker enlisted to fight in the First World War in 1916, and soon found himself joining the Canadian Field Engineers. He served in France, Belgium, Germany, and briefly in England after the war.
Brooker was a strapping lad over six feet tall and muscular. Engineers were expected to take on the heavy labour tasks required to keep Canadian soldiers safe with earthworks and trenches and to prepare measures needed to bring troops up to the front, such as building fascines and tunnels. These heavy-labour tasks were often performed under withering fire from the enemy.
Brooker’s background in mechanics continued to serve him well in the war, and one photo of shows him going for a joy-ride with his friends in a car he completely rebuilt from scratch in his down time. The photo caption explains the car was built from parts found in “Namure, Belgium by Stanley Brooker and Dick Mager. Driven to Bonn, Germany without authority, leave, passes, or rations.”
Brooker returned to Canada in late 1919 with his new bride, Muriel, in tow. He took a job as the head machine man at the Rose Creek Coal Mine in Wayne, Alberta.
Talented mechanically but also restless, Brooker moved his young family to Calgary in 1926 where he opened Brookers Battery and Ignition Service at 16th Avenue and 1st Street NE. Throughout the 1920s until the 1950s, he built and provided public-address systems for various events. From 1929 to 1941, he operated the Imperial Oil service station at 16th Avenue and Edmonton Trail NE.
When the Second World War broke out, Brooker, who was nearly 50 by that time, re-enlisted. During the Second World War, he worked as a radio instructor for the Canadian Army.
At the war’s end in 1945, Brooker opened Brookers Radio at 16th Avenue and 2nd Street NW with his son, Arthur. In 1967, he joined North Hill TV to form Associated TV at 135-16th Avenue NW. He worked all the way until his early 80s before retiring in 1973.
The First and Second World War veteran passed away in 1987 at the age of 95.
—With files from the University of Calgary at The Military Museums Library and Archives and Glenbow Museum
