John Hatfield Brooks was born in 1824, the eldest son of John Thomas Brooks of Flitwick Manor, Bedfordshire. He was educated at Rugby and entered the Indian Army, joining the 1st Bengal Light Cavalry on 30 Jan as a cornet. He was promoted to lieutenant on 16 Oct 1845 and captain on 20 Feb 1853. He wrote diaries of his time in India from 1843 to 1863. During the Indian Mutiny the Indian soldiers joined the uprising so that the regiment ceased to exist. He was promoted to brevet major on 20 July 1858 and along with other officers of the regiment became an officer in the 1st Bengal European Light Cavalry. This was short lived and the next year the East India Company lost control over India. On 1 Jan 1862 Major Brooks was an officer in the newly formed 19th Hussars. He retired from the regiment in 1864 and died in Bedfordshire in 1907. The photo shows him in 1857 and the portrait on the book cover The Diary of an Indian Cavalry Officer 1843-63: Before, During and After the Mutiny is c1845.
