HOOPER, Melville Norman Pearce
| Service Number: | 2349 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | North Adelaide, South Australia, 5 January 1894 |
| Home Town: | North Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Norwood Primary School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Fitters Laborer |
| Died: | Adelaide, South Australia, 13 August 1945, aged 51 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
West Terrace Cemetery (General) Adelaide, South Australia Plan 3, Row 20, Site Number 43 |
| Memorials: | Flinders Park Staff of the South Australian Gas Company Roll of Honour, Norwood Primary School Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 2349, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: RMS Mongolia embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 2349, 32nd Infantry Battalion, RMS Mongolia, Adelaide |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Melville Norman Pearce Hooper was born in North Adelaide, 5/1/1894. Melville, his mother, Mary Anne Hooper and his eight siblings lived at 34 Henry Street, Stepney, SA. Growing up Melville attended North Adelaide Primary School. Melville stood at a height of 5’9 and weighed at 130lbs or 58kg. He had a medium complexion with brown eyes and hair. Before enlisting into the army Melville was a fitters labourer.
On 4/1/1916 at age 22 Melville enlisted into the army. At first Melville was placed in the 32nd Infantry Battalion on 22/4/1916 as a private, but not even a month later Melville transferred to the 30th Battalion on 12/5/1916. On the 30/11/1916 Hooper was admitted into the hospital for reasons not recorded. On 5/12/1916 he was admitted to a hospital ship with Trench Feet and sent to hospital in England.
Then on 30/1/1917 Melville departed from Perham Downs to travel to Wareham and marched in to the No 4 Communication Depot.
He was taken on strength to the 30th Battalion 12/5/16 and proceeded to France on 27/5/17. He once again had time in hospital in November 1916 before returning to his unit.
In his final year of the was Melville was once again admitted into the hospital on 9/2/1918 for being sick, and again on 21/2/1918. Finally, Melville re-joined the 30th Battalion on 5/6/1918.
He survived the war and returned to Australia, discharged of 24/3/1919. Melville died on 13/8/1945 at the age of 51. He was buried in his families plot in the West Terrace Cemetery, Plan 3, Row 20, Site Number 43. He was survived by his wife Fanny Hooper who was buried above Melville’s grave. Fanny died 6/9/1960 at the age of 65.
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