Sapper ANDREW HOPPER

SAPPER ANDREW HOPPER

5345 – 1st Tunnelling Company

Andrew Hopper was born about 1883 in Pomroy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland and arrived in Australia with his family as a child. When he volunteered for active service he was working in Charters Towers, Queensland.

He passed his Medical Examination on March 13, 1916 which reveals he was 35 years of age, 177cms (5ft 9½) ins tall, weighed 66½ kgs (10st 6lbs) with a chest measurement of 85-95 cms (34-37½ ins). His fresh complexion was complimented with light brown hair and his grey eyes had a slight failing in his right eye. He was of the Presbyterian faith.

It was in Townsville on April 10, 1916 he took his Oath of Allegiance with his Attestation Papers giving his occupation initially as a Fireman which was later changed to a miner. Being unmarried he nominated his sister Miss Sarah Hopper of Millchester Road, ChartersTowers as his next of kin agreeing to allot 3/5ths of his pay to her.

Basic training was given from April 14, 1916 at the 11 Depot Battalion, Enoggera until he was transferred to the Mining Corps section on May 19. From June 26 until September 29, 1916 Andy joined other reinforcements for further instruction at Seymour camp, Victoria where he was assigned the regimental number 5345 and rank of Sapper with the September reinforcements.

The 168 reinforcements left Melbourne aboard the troopship A23 Suffolk on September 30, 1916 which docked during its voyage at Cape Town and Dakar before terminating at Plymouth, England on December 2, 1916. The men then completed a month’s training in preparation for departure for France. The troops departed Folkstone on New Year’s Day, 1917 marching in to the Australian General Base Depot before being attached to the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion on January 12, 1917.

Sapper Hopper was taken on strength with the 1st Tunnelling Company on January 27, 1917 which was working in the Larchwood – Hill 60 region. Three days after the detonation of Hill 60 while still in the area Andy was wounded in action by a sniper’s bullet on June 10, 1917 suffering a gunshot wound to the neck and face.

The following day he was admitted to the 7 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples before being transferred to England via Calais on the ship Peter de Conick on June 14. Admittance to the 2nd Southern General Hospital at Dartford followed where he remained until discharged on June 29, 1917.

His sister Sarah Hopper in Charters Towers, Queensland was notified from Base Records with the following telegram:

On Friday June 29, 1917 The Northern Miner published her news in its War column:

Sapper Hopper was admitted to the 3rdAuxiliaryHospital, Dartford on June 29 and was discharged on July 6 and marched in to the 2nd Command Depot, Weymouth where a full report on his injuries was detailed:

Report from 2nd Aust. Command Depot, Weymouth, England.

In view of the inability to take proper sustenance for sometime Sapper Hopper was declared unfit for duty or for Home Service and departed for Australia on August 25, 1917 on transport A24 Benalla. His sister Sarah was advised of his return on September 10, 1917. Andy disembarked on October 26 in the 2nd Military District and thence overland to the 1st MD where he was admitted to the No 6 Aust. GeneralHospital, Brisbane on October 28, 1917.

His medical report on admittance states:

Gun Shot Wound to neck and face. Loss of upper teeth. Pain when eating solid food.

Distension to L angle Jaw.

Sapper Hopper returned home for brief leave which was reported in The Northern Miner on Saturday November 3, 1917.

He remained in ChartersTowers but had to return for medical clearance and discharge which was recorded in The Northern Miner on Wednesday November 14, 1917.

His medical report was finalised on November 19 and he was discharged in the 1st MD on December 4, 1917.

For service to his country Sapper Andrew Hopper, 5345 1st Australian Tunnelling Company was awarded the British War Medal (22421) and the Victory Medal (21761). He returned to live in ChartersTowers and in 1920 married Edith May Bishop. He died on October 7, 1956 aged 73 years. He is buried in an unmarked grave in the ChartersTowersCemetery, Lynd Highway.

The following were reported in The NorthernMiner on Monday October 8, 1956.

He lay in an unmarked grave in section 20 of the Charters Towers Cemetery until 22 March 2009 when the 31st Infantry Battalion Association, Charters Towers Branch organised, and help fund, the erection and blessing of an appropriate marker.