Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Charles William Hooper was born at Kenton Valley (near Gumeracha), South Australia on the 13th April 1884, the second son of John Hooper and Elizabeth (Bessie) Lillecrapp.

His siblings were Mary (b 1878 - d 1959), Bessie (b 1878 - d 1968), Isabelle Brakenridge (b 1880 - d 1956), John (b 1882 - d 1953), Alice (b 1883 - d 1943), Andrew (b 1885 - d 1956), Margaret (b 1885 - 1952), Samuel (b 1887 - d 1887), Samuel (b 1889 - d 1889), Alexander (b 1891 - d 1892) and David (b 1893 - d 1893).

Charles’ father was a horse breeder at Gumeracha and later a storekeeper at Norwood.

Schooling

In September 1897 Charles was attending school at Norwood. He passed the Preliminary Examinations and in December 1897 he was awarded a three year state scholarship to attend one of the colleges.

From 1898 to 1901 Charles attended Prince Alfred College, Adelaide where he passed four subjects in the Junior Public Examinations in 1898 (English, Latin, Mathematics and elementary chemistry), six subjects in the Senior Public Examinations in 1900 (English (credit), Latin, German, Pure Mathematics, Chemistry (credit) and Experimental Physics) and five subjects in the Higher Public Examinations in 1901 (Latin, German, Pure Mathematics, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry (credit)).

Charles was a member of the PAC football team in 1901, playing in the Inter-collegiate match against St Peter’s College in June 1901.

Charles was on the Scholarship Examinations Honours List and in April 1902 he was awarded an Evening Scholarship at the University of Adelaide for 1902.

University

Charles commenced studying toward a Bachelor of Science at the University of Adelaide in 1902.

Charles gained his Bachelor of Science degree in 1904.

Charles was also undertaking subjects at the South Australian Institute of Mines and Industries, Including assaying and mechanical engineering. He was awarded a Diploma in Mining and Metallurgy (Mining with Second Class Honours (in absentia) in December 1906.

Sport

Football

Charles represented the PAC Old Boys in a match against present players in 1902.

He played four games of senior football with the Norwood Football Club in the South Australian Football Association competition in May 1903.

In July 1904 Charles played in the intra-varsity schools football competition for the Art/Science Schools in matches against the Law School and the Medical School. He also competed in a match between University and a combined Colleges side. The games were used as trial/selection matches for the upcoming Intervarsity football match against Melbourne University.

As a result of the matches Charles was selected as the reserve back for the 1904 Intervarsity (the first Intervarsity football match played between Adelaide University and Melbourne University).

Athletics

Charles competed in the 1905 Adelaide University Sports coming third in the 440 yards obstacle race.

Career and Family Life

After completing his studies Charles commenced working in the mining industry. We are unsure where he worked in the early stages of his career. However on the 2nd July 1910, Charles married Muriel Lane, the youngest daughter of Phillip Lane (of Kooringa, near Burra, SA) and the couple left for their future home at Cobar, NSW.

By November 1911, Charles and Muriel had moved to Wallaroo, SA where Charles had secured a job in the assay office of the Wallaroo and Moonta Mining and Smelting Company.

Charles played cricket for Wallaroo in November and December 1911. He was actively involved in the military forces from at least April 1912, becoming a provisional Lieutenant in the Senior Cadets at that date. In December 1912 he became a provisional second lieutenant in the Citizens Forces, 81st Infantry (Wakefield Battalion).

In December 1913 ‘The Express and Telegraph’ newspaper reported that Charles had been awarded a Bachelor of Engineering ‘in lieu of surrender degree of bachelor of science’, however the University of Adelaide Calendar continued to show Charles as holding a B.Sc..

In March 1914 Charles was promoted to a lieutenant in the Citizens Forces and he was on the committee to organise the Military and Cadets Sports at Moonta in June 1914.

Charles and Muriel’s only child, a son, Peter Lawrence (sometimes recorded as Laurence) Hooper was born at Wallaroo on the 6th March 1914.


On the 29th August 1914, Charles was at Port Pirie with A and B Companies from Wallaroo and Moonta to relieve the Port Pirie Company who had been encamped since the 6th August 1914.

World War I

After a farewell from the staff of the Smelting Works, Charles left Wallaroo in April 1915.

Charles was one of the Old PAC Boys entertained at a function in May 1915 and said he was proud to belong to the “Glorious 10th”.

On the 17th May 1915 he applied for a commission in the Australian Imperial Forces. Charles was 31 years old, 5’8½” tall and weighed 10 stone.

The Virtual War Memorial Australia records the following extract from Michael Coligan's Norwood Men Who Served, 2015.

"Charles Hooper embarked from Adelaide aboard HMAT A30 Borda on June 23, 1915, with team-mates Leslie Bryant and Clifford Cope. He then embarked from HMTS Berrima on August 1, 1915, for the Dardenelles, Alexandria and was General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1st Australian Division at Gallipoli until September 4, which was then absorbed into the 6th Reinforcements/10th Battalion at Gallipoli until September 18, 1915. On March 27, 1916, he proceeded from Alexandria to join the BEF embarking on the Laseonis for France and disembarking at Marseilles on 3 April. Charles Hooper was killed in action in the field near Poziers, France on July 25, 1916, and is buried between Poziers and Bazentin – Le Petit, about 5 miles north-east of Albert. His memorial cross is erected at Poziers British Cemetery."

Charles had a camera with him for at least the first six months of his service overseas and his collection of photographs taken in Egypt, at Gallipoli and on Lemnos are now held by the State Library of South Australia (see https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+546/1-61).

He was in command of the 6th Reinforcements that joined the Battalion on Gallipoli on 4th August 1915. Charles fought at Gallipoli until he was evacuated in late 1915.

By 1st December 1915 Charles was on Lenmos, a Greek Island in the Aegean Sea. From there he returned to Egypt. He was promoted to Captain on 12th March 1916 at Serapeum, Egypt. On the 27th March 1916 he was on a transport ship from Alexandrina, Egypt and he disembarked on the 3rd April 1916 at Marseilles, France. He then fought on the Somme.

Death

Charles was killed in action on 25th July 1916 at the Battle of Pozieres. His grave was finally lost due to battle and shell fire and his name is now recorded on the wall of the memorial at Villiers Bretonneux.

Charles was survived by his widow Muriel and their two year old son Peter. He left an estate valued at £983. His personal effects were returned to Australia onboard the ‘Wiltshire’.

Legacy

Peter Laurence Hooper attended Prince Alfred College and then the University of Adelaide. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1934. In 1935 he gained First Class Honours in Chemistry. Muriel and Peter moved to Melbourne in early 1936 and were residing at Chevron, St Kilda Road.

Peter became a chemist and later a manager. He married Miss Margaret Deravin in March 1938.

Muriel passed away in Melbourne, Victoria in 1948. Peter passed away in Melbourne, Victoria in 1989.

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared by Beth Filmer for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (with assistance from Rob O'Shannassy, Janne Filmer & Kym Beilby) please see the document attached or the Adelaide University site AdelaideConnect at
https://connect.adelaide.edu.au/nodes/view/25711

Extract from the Adelaide University Football Club and Adelaide University Cricket Club document honouring "The Fallen" Anzac Day 2015.

Charles played Intervarsity Football in 1904. He also played against a Combined Colleges side in 1905. He completed his BSc in 1904 and was working as a Metallurgist/Assayer at the Wallaroo Smelters.

Charles enlisted on 17th May 1915 and joined the 10th Battalion as a Lieutenant. He was in command of the 6th Reinforcements that joined the Battalion on Gallipoli on 4th August 1915. Promoted to Captain on 12th March 1916. Killed in action on 25th July 1917 at Pozieres. His grave was lost due to battle and shell fire and his name is now recorded on the wall of the memorial at Villiers Bretonneux.