Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Albert Edward Hooper, born in January 1892 to David and Alice Hooper in Fulham of London, England. He was married to his Wife Mary Ellen Hooper, who was also his next of kin. He lived with her on 15 Cowra Street Mile End, South Australia.

At enlistment, Hooper was 24 years old, he was 5’6.5 feet tall and he weighed 63kg. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. He worked as a labourer, and he followed the Church of England.

Hooper enlisted in Adelaide, South Australia on the 23rd of August 1915. His Regimental number was 4194. He started in the 10th Battalion, 13 Reinforcement and he embarked with this Battalion on the HMAT A30 Borda on the 11th of January 1916. On the 29th of February 1916, he was taken on strength to the 50th Battalion.

He trained in Egypt as a Private, he was a part of what AIF considered ‘Doubling’. Approximately half of its recruits were veterans from the 10th Battalion, and the other half were fresh reinforcements from Australia. The 50th Battalion was mostly made up of men from South Australia. On the 11th of June 1916, they sailed to France and the 50th fought in its first major battle at Mouquet Farm between 13th and 15th August and suffered majorly. This caused them to have to alternate between front-line duty, training, and labouring behind the line, this continued through the winter of 1916 and 17.

In Early 1917, the Battalion participated in the advance that caused the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, and attack Noreuil on the 2nd of April. Later in the year, the focus was on the Ypres sector in Belgium. The Battalion was then involved in the battle of Messines between the 7th and 12th of June and the battle of Polygon Woon on the 16th of September. The next winter was again trench warfare.

On the 5th of April 1918, at Dernancourt, the 50th Battalion assisted in pushing back the biggest German attack against the Australian troops during the war. This threat persisted through April until ANZAC DAY 1918, During which the 50th Battalion participated in the attack of Villers-Bretonneux.

The 50th Battalion continued to actively provide help to the Allies’ offence on the 8th of August 1918.

The last major operation of the 50th Battalion was the attack on the Hindenburg outpost line on the 18th of September, in which the 50th was part of the 4th Division’s reserve.

After the war had ended at the beginning of 1919 is when Hooper’s health started to decline. On the 3rd of March 1919, he fell sick again with Cystitis (a bladder infection that when untreated can be very painful.) which he had previously had in 1918 at the beginning of the year. He was sent to GC hospital; he was then discharged 10 days later. He was sent back to Australia on the 13th of April 1919.

After serving he received 2 medals, The British War Medal, the 1914/15 Star and The Victory Medal. The British War Medal was received by those who served in the First World War, the 1914/15 Star was given to those who served between the 5th of August 1914 and 31st December 1915 and the Victory Medal was received alongside it.

He went on to live until the 6th of June 1939, he died at the age of 48 and he was buried at AIF Cemetery, West Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anon, 10th Australian Infantry Battalion. Australian War Memorial. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51450

 [Accessed August 18, 2022].

Anon, 50th Australian Infantry Battalion. Australian War Memorial. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51490

 [Accessed August 18, 2022].

Anon, Albert Edward Hooper. Albert Edward Hooper | Australian War Memorial. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2449175

 [Accessed August 18, 2022].

Anon, The AIF project. Details. Available at: https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=142417

 [Accessed August 18, 2022].

Anon, The AIF project. Unit Details. Available at: https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showUnit?unitCode=INF10REIN13

 [Accessed August 18, 2022].