Thomas Hopper
Sister Esther and Thomas
Examination Certificate 1939
Thomas Hopper 1919-1942
Card sent to Tom
Joyce Marley has submitted the following:-
Born on 24th July 1919 at 17 Webb Street, Wheatley Hill, his grandparents house, Thomas was born to William and Mary Hopper (nee Anderson) and was their first child. He weighed in at 14lbs. Esther, my mam followed him 17 months later weighing much less, the average 7lbs. The family lived at 50 New Elvet, Durham and as his father was a Saddler Journeyman who was probably travelling at the time, hence Mary went to her parent's home to give birth.
The family moved to various places in Durham and Thomas was the eldest of 6 children. He had 2 sisters, Esther and Violet, and 3 brothers, Jack, Jim and Norman.
Thomas was engaged to Miss Florrie McArdle and lived at Littletown before he went to war.
Thomas had lost an uncle Thomas Hopper killed in WW1, his father William’s older brother. After Thomas was killed in WW2 one of his younger brothers, Norman, married and had a son, who he also named 'Thomas Hopper'. My Gran was so worried about this, believing that history would once again repeat itself. So far so good that has not happened and young (well not so young now) Thomas lives to keep their memories alive with me, his cousin.
Thomas enlisted in June 1939, just before war broke out in September 1939, joined the Royal Artillery and was Killed in Action in Burma on Friday 17th April 1942 aged 22 years.
We are all in his debt for our lives.
Unknown Newspaper 1942 reads Littletown - Presumed Killed
Mr and Mrs W Hopper 6 Front Street Littletown have received official news that their son Tom Hopper (23) has been missing since April 17th and is presumed killed in action in the far east. He enlisted three years ago and served in India, Iraq, Burma and Rangoon. In civilian life he was an employee at Elemore Colliery. He was well known and popular amongst all his acquaintances and friends.
A second cutting adds he had enlisted in June 1939.
Thomas Hopper is remembered at Hallgarth, Pittington on H143.01 and at Durham on D146.65.