Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 53190 Lionel William Hooper

Age: 25
From: Lambeth Surrey
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
K.I.A Friday 22nd March 1918
Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
Panel Ref: P21-23

Lionel William Hooper was born in the March quarter of 1893 in Lambeth the son of William John Hooper and his wife Mary Ann Eliza known as Annie (nee Jackson) who were married in Dartford in 1892. He was baptised with his sisters Violet May and Ethel Maggie on 05th August 1898 at St Jude's Church, Englefield, Egham, his father was an ironmonger's assistant of 3 Alexandra Road.

On the 1901 census the family are living at 22 Alexandra Road, Egham. His father William J. is aged 32 a painter, born in St Giles, London, his mother Mary A. is 31 and was born in St John's Wood, London. They have three children in the household; Lionel W. 8 born Kennington, Lambeth, Ethel M, 5 born Englefield Green. Violet M. 1 also born Englefield Green.

His father died in the June quarter of 1907 aged 39, His death was registered in Windsor.

On the 1911 census the family are still living at 22 Alexandra Road but father had died and Lionel is not with them. His widowed mother Mary Ann Eliza advised that she had been married for 19 years and had 4 children 3 of whom have survived. She is aged 42 working as a domestic servant at a ladies school, daughter Ethel May 13 at school. They have a boarder Caroline Higgins 39.

Lionel is staying with the Beal family 213 South St, Isleworth, Middlesex, he is an 18 year old butchers assistant.

He attested in Hounslow on 28th February 1913 as 15506 Royal Fusiliers, a butcher's assistant aged 20 years and 1 month. He was described as being 5' 8" tall, weight 137lbs, 36" chest with fresh complexion, brown eyes, and dark brown hair. His religion was stated as C. of E. After a hernia operation in hospital he decided to buy himself out of the Army (D Coy) on the 10th June 1914 at a cost of £18. He may have received a £9 refund when he re-enlisted.

He re-enlisted in Houslow, Middlesex and originally served as 6307, Royal Fusiliers. Following a transfer he was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 53190 when he was killed in action on the 22^nd March 1918, aged 25, during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary gives an insight into the events of 22nd March 1918:

22^nd GERMAINE – HAM- MOYENCOURT

The battalion moved up accordingly being in position at 6:30 a.m. About 3pm the enemy attacked the left of our position and advanced on our left flank towards FLUQUIERES. At 4:30 pm an attack was launched on our front and the enemy forced his way through on our right. The remainder of the Battalion was forced to retire to south of FLUQUIERES. During this engagement the Battalion lost 11 Officers and About 21 O.R. The order was given to retire to the defences at HAM. The Battalion by this time was very weak, and passing through the 20^th Division took up positions in HAM, as ordered, getting into position at 2am.

Lionel William has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Annie, Beech Villa, Wraysbury, Staines.

He is remembered on the memorial at Wraysbury Baptist Church.

We currently have no further information on Lionel William Hooper, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

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