Orders, Decorations and Medals

An exceptional Great War ‘Battalion Runner’s’ D.C.M., M.M. and Bar group of five to Corporal W. H. Hooker, Royal West Kent Regiment
Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (G-9441 Cpl., 11/R. W. Kent R.); Military Medal, G.V.R., with second award bar (G-9441 Pte., 11/R. W. Kent R.); British War and Victory Medals (9441 Cpl., R. W. Kent R.); Belgium, Croix de Guerre; together with Silver War Badge; named silver school attendance medal; set of Corporal’s stripes and an original copy of the History of the 11th (Lewisham) Battalion, The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment, by Capt. R.O. Russell, M.C., 258pp, original covers, nearly extremely fine (5) £1200-1500

D.C.M. London Gazette 6 February 1918 ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was in charge of the battalion runners and did most valuable work in carrying messages through heavy barrages during an action with utter disregard for his personal safety. He worked day and night for several days and finally after the battalion had been relieved, he remained all night in a shell hole with a badly wounded man under heavy fire and brought him away safely the following day. He set a magnificent example to all ranks.’

The regimental history states the following:

The M.M. was awarded to Hooker and 3 other of the battalion runners for the advance at Le Sars 9 October 1916. ‘The runners had a gruelling time repeatedly running the gauntlet between Battalion Headquarters and the front line as well as back to Brigade.’
The bar to the M.M. was awarded for the capture of Optic Trench and Oblique Row 15 June 1917 ‘Corporal Hooker in charge of the runners had invariably volunteered to execute the most difficult trips himself when the shelling was hottest. His cheerfulness, willingness and utter disregard of self where danger was concerned were more marked than ever on this occasion......It certainly points to the truth in Sergeant Major Johnson’s dictum that runners were sure of either becoming casualties or receiving decorations when in two short days two of them were killed and six of them awarded M.M.’s.’
The circumstances of the award of the D.C.M. are described as such ‘No one could wish for a better companion on a dangerous job than Corporal ‘Bill’ Hooker. Without him at Tower Hamlets (and he was not supposed to go, having been on tap-laying for four nights previously, but he had slipped back to his pals) Captain Henderson would have been hard put to get many of his messages to their destination. Not only was Corporal Hooker indefatigable in his message carrying through the many barrages which fell, but he led up ration and ammunition parties to the line time after time. On one such occasion he remained tending a badly wounded man in a shell hole until daylight when he brought him down in safety to the Regimental Aid Post.’
Belgium, Croix de Guerre announced in 122nd Infantry Brigade Letter 8 February 1918.