Alan Hooper and Nance Hooper correspondence
Collection
A collection of letters, photographs and correspondence written by Nancy Hooper (nee O'Neill) and Alan Hooper during the Second World War. The letters are predominately between Alan and Nancy with a few to his parents. The photographs and postcards are mostly of Papua New Guinea with some family and personal portraits. The collection also includes proofs, notes and correspondence for the books "Love, war & letters PNG 1940-1945", and "Kokoda, ten epic war trecks retold and Papua revisited" written by Alan Hooper. The research notes are a valuable resource for the formation and history of the 1st Papuan Infantry Brigade (PIB).
As company commander of 'B' Company of the 1st Papuan Infantry Battalion (1PIB) which mounted long-range patrols to gather intelligence and assist with mopping-up operations, Hooper's role also involved training 'native' troops who didn't speak English, in the use of weapons. The PIB were later turned into frontline carriers, ferrying the wounded back from the frontlines and aid posts.
In copyright.