Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Captain A. A. Hooker, Rifle Brigade - wounded in action, 8 June 1915

1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., Rif. Brig.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.); Defence and War Medals, unnamed, nearly extremely fine (5) £150-200

Albert Ayerst Hooker was born in 1896 and educated at Marlborough where he was a close friend of Sydney Woodroffe, who later at the tender age of 19, was to be awarded the Victoria Cross - posthumously. They played together in the Rugby XV at Marlborough and in 1915, like Sidney Woodroffe and his two brothers, was awarded The Curzon Wyllie Medal (the year after Sidney Woodroffe) for the best army cadet at Marlborough.

‘This medal was awarded to 2nd Lt. A. A. Hooker, now serving with the 8th Batt. Rifle Brigade, and reported wounded, who in normal circumstances would still have been in school.’

Both Hooker and Woodroffe left Marlborough in October 1914 and both were commissioned 2nd Lieutenants in the 8th (Service) Battalion Rifle Brigade. In May 1915 they went to France with the battalion and on 8 June 1915 Hooker was wounded in the trenches. He was unfortunate to have been wounded but very fortunate in other respects, in that he was still recovering when on the 30 July 1915, the 8th Battalion was attacked as they took over the trenches on the rim of the Hooge Crater. The attack was the first time the Germans employed ‘liquid fire’ (deployed by primitive but effective flamethrowers) followed by a massive infantry attack, causing havoc and hundreds of casualties in the ranks of the 8th Battalion Rifle Brigade. It was here that Woodroffe laid down his life for his men and was awarded the Victoria Cross.

On his recovery, Hooker was detailed to join the 19th (Training Reserve) Battalion Rifle Brigade in which he commanded a company and was adjutant from 1 December 1917. For his wartime services he was listed as being mentioned in despatches and awarded the Silver War Badge.

From 1923 he was a Director of the Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange. On the outbreak of the Second World War, he was employed as a Captain in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. On V.E. Day he was Administration Officer of the 39th County of London Home Guard.