6297771 Private Owen Gerrard Hooper, The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) and No. 4 Commando 

 

Rank

6297771 Private

Name & Decorations 

Owen Gerrard Hooper

Service

British Army

Unit

1st Bn The Buffs (R. East Kent Regt.) and No. 4 Commando

Attached To

4th Special Service (Commando) Brigade

Operation

Operation INFATUATE

Date of Death

5th November 1944

Place of Death

Walcheren, The Netherlands

Circumstances

Killed in Action by a booby-trapped door during house clearing

Age

31

Buried or Commemorated at

Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery

Grave or Memorial Number

Section 21: Row B: Grave 4  

 

 

From source: https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/Commando+War+Graves+Memorials+and+Plaques/graves/War+graves+Holland/bergen+op+zoom/No4+Cdo/Hooper.jpg.html?g2_imageViewsIndex=1

 

These details and photo supplied by John Martin, nephew of Sergeant Donald Martin, No.4 Commando.

 

"Pte Owen Hooper was killed crouching next to my uncle, Sgt Donald Martin. There was hard house to house fighting in Flushing. My uncle sought to gain entry into a house under enemy fire. Pte Hooper, who was part of a rifle support group, volunteered to go with him.

 

Because my uncle was armed with a Thompson sub-machine gun, Pt Hooper hit the door with the butt of his rifle. The door was booby trapped, and the resulting explosion killed Pte Hooper instantly. My uncle was temporarily blinded by the dust and debris.My uncle always felt that Pte Hooper should not have been there.

 

On the fortieth anniversary of that assault, we placed a wreath on Pte Hooper's grave in Bergen-op-Zoom cemetry. It was the first time my uncle had visited his grave. Needless to say, it was a terribly emotional moment for him given that he had survived.

 

We were staying with a Dutch family in Halsteren, where my uncle had later been billeted. Over dinner, he recounted what had happened. Our host excused himself to make a phone call. Early next morning, there was an immaculate wreath delivered to the house for us to take to the grave. The Dutch do not forget."

 

Private Hooper is buried in Bergen-Op-Zoom Cemetery. Section 21: Row B: Grave 4.