yeovil at War
Thomas George Hooper
Killed in Action on the Western Front
Thomas George Hooper was born early in 1886 and baptised at Holy Trinity church on 28 March 1886. He was the son of John Hooper, a carter at Great Lyde Farm, and his wife Jane. Nothing is known of his early life.
Thomas enlisted at Axminster, Devon, giving his address at this time as Lyme Regis, Dorset. He was a Gunner in the 150th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. His Service Number was 42923 suggesting he enlisted in early 1916.
Siege Batteries of the Royal Garrison Artillery were equipped with heavy howitzers, sending large calibre high explosive shells in high trajectory, plunging fire. A Siege Battery would include five officers and 177 other ranks, 17 riding horses, 6 draught horses and 80 heavy draught horses. The transport comprised three two-horse carts and ten four-horse wagons. The usual armaments were 6 inch, 8 inch and 9.2 inch howitzers, although some had huge railway- or road-mounted 12 inch howitzers. As British artillery tactics developed, the Siege Batteries were most often employed in destroying or neutralising the enemy artillery, as well as putting destructive fire down on strongpoints, dumps, store, roads and railways behind enemy lines.
The 150th Siege Battery was first deployed overseas on 26 August 1916, when it was sent to France.
The battery would include :-
- Personnel: 5 officers and 177 other ranks
- Horses: 17 riding, 6 draught and 80 heavy draught
- Transport: 3 two-horse carts, 10 four-horse wagons
The battery would normally be with three others, under command of a Siege Brigade. The brigade would also include an Ammunition Column of:
- Personnel: 3 officers and 104 other ranks
- Horses: 13 riding, 2 draught and 72 heavy draught
- Transport: 1 two-horse carts, 16 four-horse wagons
The brigade would also include its headquarters of:
- Personnel: 7 officers and 137 other ranks
- Horses: 21 riding, 5 draught and 72 heavy draught
- Transport: 1 one-horse cart, 2 two-horse carts, 16 four-horse wagons
Because the siege batteries moved around during the course of the war, it is not known exactly where Thomas served with his battery. He was killed in action on 21 March 1918. He was 32 years old. Since he is remembered on the Pozieres Memorial, he must have been killed on the first day of the First Battle of the Somme in 1918 (21 March – 5 April 1918).
His name is not inscribed on the War Memorial in the Borough.
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The record of Thomas' baptism at Holy Trinity church on 28 March 1886.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission certificate in memory of Thomas Hooper.