Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Henry Herbert Hooper, known as Harry, was the youngest son of John and Hannah Maria (née Claridge) Hooper of Temuka. He was born on 23 October 1885 at Temuka, John and Hannah had married in 1866 in their native Gloucestershire, England. Leaving London in May 1874, the “Carisbrooke Castle” arrived at Lyttleton on 2 September with immigrants, among them Mr and Mrs Hooper and four children. One daughter had died in infancy and Thomas John Hooper, born in 1873, died at sea on the journey, perhaps of measles. Possibly they came on to Timaru very soon after (per the steamer “Phoebe”). About 250 persons had been especially selected for the Timaru district. A second Thomas John Hooper was born in December 1875 at Temuka. Six more children were born at Temuka, one dying in infancy. The family was at Arowhenua in July 1892 when Henry started at Temuka School, joining older siblings – Charles, Frederick (Fred), Edwin, and joined the following year by his younger sister Elizabeth (Lizetta). At the Sunday School anniversary of the Temuka Wesleyan Church in December 1890, little Henry Hooper and his older brothers, Thomas, Charles, Frederick and Edwin all received prizes. In January 1894, Henry was again awarded a prize at the Wesleyan Church Sunday School; and perhaps in February 1899 a boys’ first prize.

Tragedy struck the family in December 1906. Mr John Hooper had started for home from the Wesley Church picnic party held in the bush at Geraldine, late in the afternoon of 17 December 1906. He was driving a spring trap when his horse was startled by a traction engine truck. He was unable to control the horse, and it bolted, throwing him out on to the road. He was seriously hurt about the head. Although his wounds were stitched up, he suffered severe shock and died on 23 December. Mr Hooper was a highly respected member of the Wesleyan Church, being for many years an office-bearer. Mrs Hooper who was at the time in rather delicate health, lived on at Temuka, dying on 31 May 1914.

Possibly Harry Hooper and his brother Charles gave items at a farewell function for a serviceman at Orakipaoa in March 1916, the family’s musical items being well known. Henry Herbert Hooper, Temuka, was medically examined by Dr Scannell on 8 May 1916 at Temuka. He stood at 5 feet 9 inches, weighed 161 pounds, had a chest measurement of 36-39 inches, a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. His sight was measured at 5/5 for both eyes; his hearing and teeth were good; his colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal; and his limbs and chest were well formed. He had had no illnesses or fits; was free from diseases, was vaccinated, and was in good bodily and mental health. He registered at the Timaru Defence Office the next day. While he was a labourer at Winchester, his given address was Gammack Street, Temuka. Single and Methodist, he named his younger sister (Lizetta) as next-of-kin – Mrs C. Brown, 42 Macaulay Street, Addington, Christchurch. South Canterbury’s quota of the 17th Reinforcements left Timaru by the second north-going express on 31 May 1916. At noon they were entertained at dinner by the lady members of the South Canterbury War Relief Society, in Stafford Tea Rooms. At 3.30 p.m. the soldiers assembled at the Drill Hall, where they were farewelled by the Mayor and others. Among those who formed the Seventeenth Reinforcements was H. H. Hooper (Infantry). Hooper enlisted on 1 June 1916 at Trentham.

An evening farewell social to recruits had been held in the Temuka Drill Hall on 30 May. Every seat was occupied and standing room also long before the entertainment commenced. There was a scene of the greatest enthusiasm when the recruits, headed by the Temuka Brass Band, marched through hall and were conducted to seats of honour near the stage. The people rose en masse and cheered them again and again. All desired to show appreciation of their action in volunteering. The names of the Temuka men leaving with the 17th Reinforcements included H. H. Hooper. After a most enjoyable concert, the speaker for the evening, Captain Oakey (M.C.), gave a chatty address of anecdotes and personal experiences, that were listened to with close attention and pleasure, and wished them all “bon voyage.” During the evening supper was handed round. Cheers for the boys and the National Anthem brought the entertainment to a close. The next afternoon the recruits fell in at the Drill Shed, and headed by the Brass Band, marched to the railway station, where addresses were delivered before the men were fondly cheered on boarding the train for Timaru. In Timaru, the reinforcements marching in column of route’ processed behind the 2nd (South Canterbury) Regimental Band playing stirring marches. The route to the station was lined by a large and enthusiastic crowd, who gave cheer upon cheer for the departing men. After a few minutes’ wait the train arrived and was boarded by the men who were lustily cheered as the train moved off.

A number of friends met at the residence of Mrs D. King, Maude Street, Temuka, on the evening of 15 August 1916 to bid farewell to Privates Jas King, H. Hooper, and Walter Edgeler. Many good wishes were expressed for the boys’ safe return. A very pleasant evening was brought to a close by the singing of Auld Lang Syne. Friends gathered again at the Temuka railway station on 18 August 1916 to bid farewell to Privates H. Hooper and J. White who were returning to camp after spending their final leave in Temuka. Three hearty cheers were given for the soldiers as the train steamed out.

Hooper was promoted to the rank of lance corporal on 27 August 1916. Lance Corporal Hooper embarked with the 17th Reinforcements, leaving from Wellington on 25 September 1916 per the “Devon”. Disembarking at Devonport, England on 21 November, he marched into Sling and was posted to the Canterbury Company Reserve Battalion the next day. On 9 December 1916, Hooper proceeded overseas to France and was attached to Strength at Etaples. Joining the 2nd Battalion of the Canterbury Infantry Regiment in the Field on 7 January 1917, he relinquished the appointment of lance corporal. He was detached to the Traffic Police on 20 February 1917, rejoining his Unit on 21 June. He was detached for duty with APM on 13 August 1917.

On 5 October 1917 he was evacuated to hospital and admitted to the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance then to No. 17 Casualty Clearing Station, wounded. He had been wounded on 4 October in the fighting in Flanders. Having suffered a severe gunshot wound to his right thigh, he was admitted to No. 6 General Hospital at Rouen, France on 7 October until 14 October. Having embarked for England per Hospital Ship “St George” on 18 October, he was admitted to the No. 1 New Zealand General Hospital at Brockenhurst, England on 20 October. The advice in mid-November was that he was improving, and he was transferred to the New Zealand Convalescent Hospital at Hornchurch [on 15 November]. After going on leave from Hornchurch on 16 December 1917, he reported to Codford on 31 December. But, on 7 January 1918, he was admitted to the 3rd New Zealand General Hospital at Codford (V.D. Section). Discharged on 13 February, he was attached to the Command Depot at Codford on 20 February. In March 1918 he incurred a monetary penalty on account of being concerned in the destruction of Government property (table). He was admitted to the 3rd New Zealand General Hospital at Codford (V.D. Section) again on 30 March 1918, then discharged to the 2nd NZ General Hospital (Walton-on-Thames) on 30 April. After forfeiting two days’ pay for overstaying leave, he was attached to the Command Depot on 15 May. Three weeks later he marched into Sling.

He was to proceed overseas again on 29 September 1918, but this was cancelled. Private H. H. Hooper underwent a medical examination at Sling on 14 March 1919. Embarking for the return to New Zealand at Tilbury on 1 April 1919 per the “Arawa”, H. H. Hooper arrived back on 15 May. The arrival at Lyttelton had been delayed for a few days by westerly weather. The health of the ship was, however, good. She brought a large draft of Canterbury soldiers. Hooper was granted leave for twenty-eight days after disembarkation. His intended address was C/o Mrs M. Thomas, Gammack Street, Temuka – that is, his older sister (Delcy). Henry Herbert Hooper was discharged on 12 June 1919, on the termination of his period of engagement. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. All his overseas service was in Europe. The name of Private H. H. Hooper, 17th Reinforcements, appeared in the Active Service List - a list of those who had volunteered to serve the Empire with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and had gone from the Temuka district - published regularly by the Temuka Leader. Perhaps he was elected a member at the annual meeting of the Temuka Brass Band in late June 1919. In February 1931, H. H. Hooper made a sizable donation to the Timaru Citizens Relief Committee’s collection for the Earthquake Relief Fund.

On 28 June 1921 at St Patrick’s Church, Arrowtown Henry married Margaret Jane Cosgrove. Henry and Margaret probably met when Margaret was residing with relatives at the Wolseley Hotel at Winchester. Harry and Margaret lived initially at Temuka, soon moving into Timaru and keeping a boarding house at Stafford House for a time. They had no family but often welcomed a sister and nieces of Margaret. Indeed, one of Margaret's nieces maintained a close relationship and was the next-of-kin for Harry when he died. Margaret predeceased Henry by nearly twenty years and was buried in the Timaru Cemetery with her sister. Henry Herbert Hooper outlived all his siblings. He died on 21 September 1971 at Timaru, aged 85 years, and was buried in the Services section of Timaru Cemetery, a services plaque marking his grave. His next-of-kin at death was Mrs M. H. Briggs, Auckland – née Margaret Helen Cosgrove, a niece of Henry’s late wife. She was present at his funeral. By his brief Will, signed in February 1966, Henry bequeathed the whole of his estate to “Margaret Helen Briggs (niece of my late wife Margaret Jane Hooper) and my friend Mary Breen (whose address at the date of this my said will is 4 Browne Street, Timaru) in equal shares . . . . .” Harry and Margaret were living at 4 Browne Street when Margaret died in 1951, and Henry was still there when he died. Mary Breen and her husband Joseph moved to the address in the mid-1950s before his death in 1956. Mary (widow) spent some years at the address with Henry and remained there for quite some years after his death.

Many relatives of Henry Hooper saw war service. Thomas John Cyril Thomas and Gordon Forest Dean Thomas, sons of Henry’s older sister Delcy, served in World War One, Gordon dying at sea en route to England in September 1918; Francis Thomas John Hooper and James Edward Hooper (Edward), the two eldest of the six sons of Henry’s brother James, also served in World War One, while Harold Hooper, the fourth son of James, and Edward’s son Kenneth both served in World War Two; Sefton George Alfred Hooper, the youngest son of Henry’s brother George, served in World War Two; Claude Vivian Hooper, the youngest son of Henry’s brother Thomas, also served in World War Two; Henry Herbert Hooper, the youngest son of Henry’s brother Charles and namesake of Henry, served in World War Two; as did Claude Howard Hooper, the only son of Henry’s brother Edwin, and Basil Claude Brown, the elder son of Henry’s younger sister Lizetta; John Kevin Patrick Greelish (Jack), the son of Henry’s niece Maud Hooper and a World War One serviceman, served in World War Two.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [01 January 2017]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5541 0056431) [06 January 2017]; Timaru Cemetery headstone images (Timaru District Council) [01 January 2017]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [01 January 2017]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [01 January 2017]; personal family research (many years ago); NZ Electoral Rolls (microfiche records held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG; ancestry.com.au) [many years ago; 29 August 2024]; Timaru Herald, 22 November 1951, 4 December 1951, 22 September 1971 (Timaru District Library) [many years ago]; Temuka Leader, 16 December 1890, 27 January 1894, 21 February 1899, 18, 20, 22, 27 & 29 December 1906, 2 June 1914, 27 January 1917, Timaru Herald, 2 June 1914, 8 March 1916, 10 & 31 May 1916, 1 June 1916, 19 & 22 August 1916, 30 June 1919, 24 February 1931, Lyttelton Times, 20 October 1917, Dominion, 7 November 1917, NZ Times, 29 April 1919, Sun, 29 April 1919, Lake County Press, 30 June 1921 (Papers Past) [28 May 2016; 26 September 2020; 28 August 2024]; Probate record (Archives NZ Collections – Record Number TU403/1971) [2 September 2024]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Currently Assigned to

TS