HOOKER, William George
| Service Number: | 740 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 September 1914, Served in the South African War (British Army, Imperial Yeomans) from March 1901 – September, 1902 & was awarded Medal with 5 clasps. |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 45th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Lambeth, London, Surrey, England , 24 September 1880 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | L.C.C. School, Walnut Tree Walk, Lambeth, London, England |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Wounds, 2nd London General Hospital, Chelsea, London, England, 12 June 1917, aged 36 years |
| Cemetery: |
Brookwood Military Cemetery, Pirbright, Surrey, England, United Kingdom Plot XI, Row E, Grave No. 10 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 740, 13th Infantry Battalion, Served in the South African War (British Army, Imperial Yeomans) from March 1901 – September, 1902 & was awarded Medal with 5 clasps. | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 740, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 740, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 13 Jul 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
| 29 Dec 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
| 3 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Sergeant, 45th Infantry Battalion | |
| 23 Feb 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 740, 45th Infantry Battalion , The Outpost Villages - German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line, GSW to knee | |
| 12 Jun 1917: | Involvement Sergeant, 740, 45th Infantry Battalion , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 740 awm_unit: 45 Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1917-06-12 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 12th June…… William George Hooker was born at Lambeth, London, Surrey, England on 24th September, 1880.
William George Hooker served in the South African War from March 1901 – September, 1902 & was awarded Medal with 5 clasps.
According to information provided by his sister for the Roll of Honour – William George Hooker came to Australia when he was 31 years old & he was a Billiard Cue Maker.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 30th September, 1914 as a 34 year old, single, Labourer from 118 Upper Ford Street, Sydney, NSW.
Private William George Hooker embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Ulysses (A38) on 22nd December, 1914 with the 13th Infantry Battalion “G” Company.
On 12th April, 1915 Private Hooker proceeded from Alexandria to join M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) at Gallipoli. He was to be Acting Corporal at Gallipoli from 21st May, 1915.
Acting Corporal Hooker was promoted to Corporal from 11th June, 1915 while posted at Gallipoli. He was promoted to Sergeant from 27th August, 1915 while posted at Gallipoli.
Sergeant Hooker reported sick on 17th November, 1915. He was transferred & admitted to St. Patrick’s Hospital, Malta on 24th November, 1915. Sergeant Hooker was discharged to All Saints Convalescent Camp at Malta on 15th December, 1915. He embarked for Egypt on 20th December, 1915 fit for active Service.
Sergeant Hooker rejoined his Battalion at Ismailia on 3rd January, 1916. He disembarked at Alexandria on 26th January, 1916.
He was transferred from 13th Battalion to 45th Battalion & was taken on strength of 45th Battalion on 3rd March, 1916.
On 14th May, 1916 Sergeant Hooker was transferred to 12th Training Battalion.
Sergeant Hooker was to be Acting CSM (W.O. Class II) from 4th July, 1916 while posted at Rollestone, Wiltshire, England. He reverted from Acting Warrant Officer on 18th July, 1916 to rank of permanent Sergeant while posted at 12th Training Battalion, Rollestone, Wiltshire, England.
He embarked from England on 5th September, 1916 for France. He joined 4th A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France from 12th Training Battalion, No. 11 Camp, Rollestone on 11th September, 1916. Sergeant Hooker was taken on strength of 45th Battalion in the Field on 22nd September, 1916.
Sergeant William George Hooker was recommended for the Military Medal for his bravery at Guedecourt between 23rd & 24th November, 1916.
On 23rd February, 1917 Sergeant Hooker was wounded in action. He was admitted to 45th Casualty Clearing Station in France on 22nd ** February, 1917 (** date as recorded on Casualty Form – Active Service). Sergeant Hooker was transferred to Ambulance Train 21 on 25th February, 1917 then transferred & admitted to 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen, France on 26th February, 1917 with GSW (gunshot wound/s) left Knee. He was transferred to Hospital Ship Western Australia on 17th May, 1917 with GSW Thigh & compound fracture Femur & embarked for England.
He was admitted to 2nd London General Hospital, Chelsea, London, England on 17th May, 1917 with compound fracture of Thigh.
A Medical Report was completed on 29th May, 1917 on Sergeant Hooker. His disability was recorded as “G.S.W. L. Leg with compound fracture of femur & secondary infection of knee joint.” The injury had occurred on 23rd February, 1917 in France while in action: “Lower lid of femur fractured. Knee joint became infected and was drained on 2nd April, 1917. Further incision was again made on 10th April, 1917.”
Sergeant Hooker’s present condition was listed as “Knee joint is very much swollen and there is a free discharged of pus. X Ray shows a severe fracture just above the condyles of femur. Moving of leg and joint causes exceedingly severe pain.” An operation was performed & the knee joint drained.
The Officer in charge of the medical case recommended that Sergeant Hooker be discharged as permanently unfit. The Medical Board also agreed on 7th June, 1917 that Sergeant Hooker be discharged as permanently unfit.
Sergeant William George Hooker died at 2.20 pm on 12th June, 1917 at 2nd London General Hospital, Chelsea, London, England from wounds received in action in France – G.S.W. leg (some forms have left leg listed, others have right leg).
He was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery where around 360 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
Inscription:
In Due Season We Shall Reap If We Faint Not
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/h.html
Click images to start slideshow.