Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George Henry Hooper was the youngest of 6 known children born in 1896 at Shankhouse/Hartford, near Cramlington, Northumberland. His father William A. Hooper originated from Tavistock, Devonshire where he was born in 1860, his mother Emily Grace Opie was born July 26th 1861 at Liskeard, Cornwall. Both came from mining families that migrated to the north east, they met and were married in 1880 in the district of Tynemouth, Northumberland. Newly married they lodged at 22, Albion Row, Cramlington, with Emily’s parents John and Mary Opie and her siblings James (21), John (18) and Elizabeth (12). Ten years later they were living at East Wood Row with 5 of their 6 children, Mary Jane (10), Eliza Ann (9), William J. (6), Charlotte Alma (5) and Lucy (3), William was employed as a coal miner. By the time George Henry was 4 years of age his father had been joined by his elder brother William Jnr (16) at the colliery where he was a token boy above ground.
At the age of 45 years Emily Grace Hooper nee Opie died in the district of Tynemouth in 1906, Charlotte Alma, George Henry and widower William Hooper were taken in by daughter/sister Eliza Ann and her husband John Robson, who had 2 children, William Henry (5) and Gladys (1) and were living at 3, North Beech Grove Terrace, Ryton-on-Tyne, County Durham. William, his son-in-law and George Henry, only 14 years old, worked as miners. He later moved to the Consett area of County Durham.
George Henry Hooper enlisted at Consett in 1915 assigned as Private 78479 Northumberland Fusiliers, 11th Battalion. The main body of men departed in 1915 for service on the Western Front attached to the 23rd Division, he did not join them until after the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1916 when he turned 19 years of age, having reached the legal limit required for service overseas. His arrival coincided with the commencement of the Battles of the Somme where the 11th Battalion attached to the 23rd Division saw action at Contalmaison during the Battle of Albert July 1st-13th, Bazentin Ridge July 14th-17th, Pozieres July 23rd-September 3rd, Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd, Morval 25th-28th September and the Battle of Le Transloy including the capture of Le Sars October 1st-18th 1916. Moved from France to the battlefields of the Ypres salient in Belgium the battalion during 1917 participated during the Battle of Messines, the Battle of Menin Road, Polygon Wood and the First and Second Battles of Ypres also known as Passchendaele. November 1917 the Division was moved to Italy between Mantua and Marcaria before taking over the front line at Montello, December 4th 1917. In 1918 they fought on the Asiago Plateau and at the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, including the passage of the Piave and the Monticano.
Private 78479 George Henry Hooper Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action October 27th 1918 when the 23rd Division was midway between the Rivers Livenza and Meduna, east of Sacile, only 8 days prior to the the Italian Armistice of November 4th 1918. He was interred at plot 5. Row A. grave 8. His sister Charlotte Alma as his nominated sole and legitimate beneficiary received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
William A. Hooper died aged 79 years in 1939 registered in the district of Northumberland, Charlotte Alma never married, she died in 1961 aged 75 years, registered Durham North Western, including Gateshead, Lanchester and Chester-le-Street constituencies.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
The Blaydon Courier 30/10/1920 reads:-
In loving memory of our dear brother Pte. George H Hooper of 2 Parker's Buildings Iveston killed in Italy Oct. 27th 1918 aged 22 years. What peaceful hours we once enjoyed. How sweet their memory still. This war has left an aching void. The world can never fill. Too dearly loved to ever be forgotten by his father, brother, sisters, brother in law, sister in law, neices and nephews.
George Henry Hooper is remembered at Iveston on I5.01 at Leadgate on L65.02 and L65.03
