Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An unusual campaign group of eight awarded to Captain, later Flight Lieutenant, S. Hooper, 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (T.F.), Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force Volunteer, who was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal in bronze for saving the life of his observer when their aircraft came down into the sea off Folkestone, 26 February 1917. He was mentioned in despatches during the Second World War, and died aged 62 whilst still in service in December 1945

British War and Victory Medals (Capt. S. Hooper. R.A.F.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Capt. S. Hooper. R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Flt. Lt. S. Hooper. R.A.F.V.R.) mounted on card for display, generally good very fine or better (8) £360-£440

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1943.

Royal Humane Society Case no. 43942 (bronze, successful):

‘On 26 February 1917 at sea off Folkestone at 1pm - An aeroplane with the two men (Sgt G. C. Powell, RFC and Hooper) came down in the sea about half a mile from shore: both had heavy clothing on. Sgt. Powell became exhausted and Captain Hooper swam with him nearly to land when a boat reached them.’

Stanley Hooper was born in Upton Park, London in July 1883. He served as a Trooper with the 1st City of London Yeomanry prior to being commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (Territorial Force) in June 1913. Hooper advanced to Lieutenant in August 1914, and to Temporary Captain in May 1915. He served in the French theatre of war from June 1915 (he tried to claim a 1914-15 Star, but his MIC correctly gives him as ‘Ineligible’, and he was awarded the TWFM in June 1922). Hooper advanced to Captain in June the following year, and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in October 1916.

Hooper initially trained as a pilot, and was stationed at the Auxiliary School of Aerial Gunnery when his aircraft came down into the sea off Folkestone, 26 February 1917. He lost his aircrew medical category, 24 April 1918, and was classified as ‘fit for general service ground duties only.’ Hooper was reclassified as a Technical Officer for the remainder of the war, and it was in this specialisation that he went out to the Middle East and India in August 1918.

Hooper left the R.A.F. in June 1919, and joined the R.A.F.V.R. as a Pilot Officer on probation in May 1939 (aged 56). He advanced to Flight Lieutenant, and died aged 62 whilst still in service, at Harrow Hospital, Middlesex in December 1945. Flight Lieutenant Hooper’s Air Effiency Award was issued to his next of kin in January 1950. He is buried in Harrow Cemetery, Middlesex.

Sold with copied research.