Alan Hooper and Nance Hooper correspondence

In June 1940 Alan Hooper service no. QX62238, trained with the 15th Infantry Battalion, Rifle Range Camp, at Enoggera Army Barracks. The next month he departed for New Guinea aboard the 'Orungal' waving good-bye to his fiancee of only 10 days, Nance (Nancy) O'Neill.

Hooper wrote regularly to Nancy of his life in camp before leaving Port Moresby, his visits to remote coastal outposts, a voyage up the Lakotoi River, life at Porebada village outpost, and supervising native workmen. Late in the year Hooper is hospitalised and treated for malaria.

Note: several items are incomplete, or have pages missing.

In 1941 Alan Hooper visited the outpost station of Maata Hill in central New Guinea, Rouna Falls, and Ela Beach. He was promoted to Acting Sergeant in May 1941, the same month that his fiancee Nancy turned 20; he described the arrival of the US Fleet; in August he was appointed Lieutenant and discussed the growing threat from Japan; the 'Sydney's' sinking and a reconassiance expedition undertaken 30 miles up the coast.

Note: several items are incomplete, or have pages missing.

In this series of letters from 1942 Alan Hooper wrote to his fiancee Nancy and his mother in Brisbane. Early in the year he described his time away from camp at Port Moresby, fishing and shooting expeditions; and the relationships he was building with the local people.

In April Nancy joined the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) and wrote of how much she was enjoying the life. Based initially at Evans Head in northern NSW she wrote of her growing confidence and promotion to general Clerk.

In May, Alan and his unit undertook operations at Buna and Rouna Valley, and he described a difficult journey through very high terrain 4500 feet high (Kokoda). 

In August Alan's life was enriched by the arrival of a US aircrew whose craft had come down closeby, they shared the difficulties of foraging for food as his supplies had run out. 

In October his 'house' was shelled by the Japanse and described the death of a close colleague not long after. 

Of particular note is a letter from Nauseor Kaise to Alan asking for advise of a safe place for his tribes to live and providing information on the Japanese camps.

Note: several items are incomplete, or have pages missing.

1942 timeline:

• July 1-21 Papuan Infantry Brigade (PIB) headquarters was established at Kokoda, with its patrols spread from Oro Bay to Morobe on the coast and inland from Ongahambo near Awala to Garaina near Wau.
• July 15 'B' Company, 39th Battalion arrived at Kokoda
• July 21 1,200 cariers left Oro Bay with 'B' Company's equipment and rations. That afternoon 1,500 Japanese troops disembarked at Basabua (near Gona). 
• July 23 PIB soldiers fired on Japanse troops, 1km east of Lieutenant Searle's Awala plantation. 
• July 25 Battle of Oivia
• July 29 Battle of Kokoda
• August 10 'A' Company 39th Battalion withdraw from Kokoda after failed attempt by 'B' and 'C' companies to support its reoccupation
• August 25 Japanese naval force lands troops at Milne Bay
• August 26-29 Battle of Isurava
• Sepember 5-6 Japanese troops withdraw from Milne Bay by naval force
• September 28 Australian troops retake Ioribaiwa
• November 2 Australians reoccupy Kokoda
• November 9-11 Australians retake Gorari and Oivi
• November 21 Popondetta and Doboduru airfields made operative
• December 9 Australians take Gona
• December 19 Australian and US forces take Cape Endaidere

Early in the year Alan Hooper was sent on leave to Australia to recuperate from an operation and treatment for Malaria. Nancy and Alan had the opportunity to see each other as he convalesced at Burleigh Heads and he proposed they marry while he is on leave.

Alan and Nancy were married at the Lota Presbyterian Church in Brisbane and soon after he was returned to active duty in New Guinea, travelling by train first to Townsville before flying again to Port Moresby.

Nancy who was been discharged from the WAAAF at her own request returned to work and moved into the family home in Manly with her parents.

Alan and Nancy exchanged many letters this year, he was often away on missions, giving descriptions of the coastal locations - with towering mountains, lush jungle and clear fresh water streams. He is involved in operations near the Song River in the Finschhafen area, with few supplies or medical assistance.

Note: several items are incomplete, or have pages missing.

The year started with bad luck for Nancy who lost her wedding rings in the surf; she is delighted several weeks later to receive replacement ones from Alan.

By February Alan Hooper's role also included controlling the operations of native labour and he had set up a native hospital. They are very close to the fighting and he suffers from chronic dysenty. His unit has become expert 'Jap hunters' and they are hosting war correspondents and photographers; close to the action and under mortar fire.

After much delay Alan is given leave to return to Australia when he and Nancy spent several weeks together, on his return to Townsville he is hospitalised with fever and has a splinter of steel removed from a scar in his face; Nancy flew to Townsville to be with him for several days after he was discharged.

On her return Nancy moved to Southport to live with her sister, and Alan is later much occupied taking over Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) camps and is again taken ill with malaria. Much of their correspondence appeared to go astray and they are burdoned with the difficulties of a long-distance relationship.

On the last day of the year Alan wrote to his mother in Brisbane in which he described his adventures to find Christmas trees for the Red Cross at Cape Killerton, and his encounter with the natives who helped carry him through the swamp two years ago.

Note: several items are incomplete, or have pages missing.

In February 1945 Alan Hooper was seconded within his unit to come under the 2nd AIF and not long after was diagnosed with dengue fever; he was admitted to no 248 US Army hospital for treament.

Later in May he was accepted into the ANGAU Officers Regimental Training Course and he discussed his expected return to Australia once he had successfully completed it. His return was much delayed but he received leave to return in early September, here the letters end.

Note: several items are incomplete, or have pages missing.

This collection of more than 120 photographs and postcards are mostly of Papua New Guinea with some family and personal portraits.

There are a number of images taken by or of Alan Hooper while he was on active service, many are captioned, and some of which have been featured in his autobiography 'Love war & letters PNG 1940-45' published in 1994. Included at the rear of the album is a small collection of Japanese occupation currency.

Correspondence, photographs and research notes principally relating to the autobiographical book "Love, War & letters" by Alan Hooper, published in 1994. Also included are manuscripts, newspaper clippings, for reminiscences and anniversary events.