Allan Brooks

His father William Edwin Brooks had been a keen ornithologist in India but growing up in a farming household in Canada made his entry into the career of bird art much more difficult than for his contemporary Louis Agassiz Fuertes in the United States of America.

Thanks to his father's connections, he interacted with Henry Seebohm and learnt egg-collection and butterfly collection from the taxidermist John Hancock.

Robert Ridgway, the American ornithologist helped him identify birds early in Brooks' life and had shown appreciation for his art work.

Unlike wildlife artists in the United States of America during the same period, he did not find easy ways to support his interest in art.

[2][3][4] He was also recruited during World War I for his skills as a sharp-shooter and served with the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion and later was a chief instructor training snipers.

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.