This name is on St Mark's memorial, Kennington, Oval, London SE11
G. H. Hooker (George Henry Hooker)
Service no 43390
Serjeant, Royal Irish Fusiliers, "D" Coy. 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion
Died on 3 October 1918, aged 31
CWGC: "Husband of Lily Hooker, of 1 Kennington Park Gardens, London."
Remembered at Dadizeele New British Cemetery, Belgium
George Henry Hooker, a commercial traveller then living at 30 Swaby Road, Earlsfield, south-west London, attested with the 9th County of London (Queen Victoria's Rifles) on 11 December 1915. He was sent to the Reserve an mobilised six months later. Having reached the rank of Lance Corporal he transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers (10 April 1917) and rose to Serjeant before he was killed at Ypres on 3 October 1918, five weeks before the end of the war.
He stood 5 feet 2half inches tall, weighed 122 pounds and measured 34 inches around the chest (with 2 inches expansion).
Hooker left behind a widow, Lily (nee Sewell) and a child, George Henry, born in October 1912.
In September 1920 Lily wrote to the Army in 1921 enquiring about a photo of her husband's grave:
"I would be very pleased if you could let me have a photo of his grave, or perhaps you will be good enough to let me know where, if what I ask is out of your office work altogether I am rather anxious because I'd like very much to go across very soon and would like the photo to take with me." The Army replied that there was no longer an official Army photography service but nevertheless in August 1923 sent her a photo of the grave.
She was also concerned about the loss of her husband's effects: " I haven't received any of his effects yet. I was sent a small parcel and asked to sign for contents. When I undone the parcel only half the things were in the register my Husband's purse and cap badge was not in the parcel. I think I have been very patient and should like very much to hear from you."
Lily was awarded 22/11 weekly pension for herself and George Henry.