Selected Biographies

Hooker, Arthur George James – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk 17.4.1892.[1]  Parents: Arthur Garland Hooker (Signalman for Great Eastern Railway) and Ada Mary [née Osborn].  Family Connections: Brother to Charles Edward Hooker [b1899].  Home: Station Road, Long Melford (1901), Mill Cottage, Boreham, Chelmsford, Essex (1911).  Occupation: Porter for Great Eastern Railway (1911), Railway Ticket Collector at Witham in Essex [1919].[2]  Married: Mildred Angelottie Brown in 1921.  Service Record: Arthur enlisted as Pte.13479 with 9^th [Service] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment and was posted to France from 31.8.1915 as part of 71^st Brigade, 6^th Division.  He was promoted to Sergeant and was serving with 2^nd Battalion, Suffolks at the time of his discharge in May 1919.  Both battalions saw action during the Somme Offensive of 1916.  His Service Record does not appear to have survived and it is therefore not possible to say with any certainty when Arthur was transferred to 2^nd Suffolks, however this may have been as late as February 1918 when his former unit was disbanded.[3]  Died: Witham, Essex in 1933.

Hooker, Charles Edward – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 5.4.1899.[4]  Parents: Arthur Garland Hooker (Signalman for Great Eastern Railway) and Ada Mary [née Osborn].  Family Connections: Brother to Arthur George James Hooker [b1892].  Home: Station Road, Long Melford (1901 and 1911), 161 Maltings Lane, Witham, Essex (1939).  Occupation: Brewer [1919].  Married: Elsie Dorothy Piper in 1925.  Service Record: Charles was conscripted on 2.3.1916 as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery, receiving his discharge on 13.2.1919.  He re-enlisted as Gnr.153901 in 532^nd Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery serving from 1919 to 1922.[5]  Died: Witham, Essex on 5.3.1981.[6]

Notes – [1] Date of birth from Admission Register 2.12.1895, St Catherines Infants School, Long Melford.  [2] Occupation taken from the National Union of Railwaymen: General Register of Members 13.6.1919 [MSS. 127/NU/OR/65].  [3] For its first six weeks in France 71^st Brigade was under the command of 24^th Division.  For details of 9^th and 2^nd Suffolk’s movements see War Diaries [WO 95/1625/1 and WO 95/1437/1] and Murphy, Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. R. The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 [London: Hutchinson and Co, 1928], various chapters.  See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [4] Date of birth from Admission Register 1.4.1902, St Catherines Infants School, Long Melford.  [5] RA Record and Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329].  [6] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.