Person:Brook Dodson (1)

William Henry Brooks and Ann Leach are given as Leno's parents on his birth certificate (Leno Herbert) 27th Feb 1875 Walton on Thames, but I can find no marriage for them and no residence for them. In the 1881 census he is living with Edmond and Abigail Dodson and in 1891 his name is given as Brook Dodson. He later married as Leno Albert William Brooks.

There is a family story that he was the illegitimate son of a wealthy man and that money was given to his mother to bring him up discretely. I am guessing there is a little truth mixed with fiction and maybe his parents paid the Dodson’s for his upkeep, or maybe not, who knows? A further twist is that Arthur Wyeth is listed as informant and was present at the birth of Leno. He was a publican, so maybe Ann worked for him, or was he the Father? Did he arrange for the Dodson's to Foster Leno?

Leno married Harriet Susan Wright on 4 June 1899 at Clapham Christ Church, Lambeth. In the 1901 Census of England they are living in Kennington, London with 2 small children (Harriet junior and Leno junior). He is recorded as Leno Brooks. He received the Meritorious Award for Gallantry in France during WWI on 29/8/1917 serving as a Sgt in the Operating Division of the Royal Engineers. Regiment number 109166, KR/252748.