WAR MEMORIALS IN THE PARISH OF NORTHOP
The villages of Northop, Northop Hall and Sychdyn (Soughton)
The villages of Northop, Northop Hall and Sychdyn (Soughton)
Name Joseph Raymond Hooson
Regiment 3rd Bn Welsh Guards
Service Rank and Number Guardsman 2738372
Military Cemetery/Memorial Cassino Memorial
Ref No. of Grave or Memorial Panel 4
Country of Cemetery/Memorial Italy
Medals Awarded
Date and Circumstances of Death Died on 19th February 1944 aged 20yrs. He was shot by a sniper.
Biographical Details Known
Raymond was born on the 6th October 1924. His parents were Herbert Edward and Vera Doris Hooson. They had originally lived in the 'Top Lodge' at Sychdyn but in about 1926 moved to a new council house in Brookside Crescent, Northop Hall. Ray was one of five children. He had one older sister, Betty and three younger siblings Reg, Doreen and Alec. He went to Northop Hall school and then onto the 'Central School' in Shotton after which he worked in the brickworks. He was called up to the army when he was 18 in 1942 and suddenly became known as Joe. He became a guardsman in the Welsh Guards and trained in Caterham before serving in North Africa and finally Italy.
His sister Betty remembers the day when the telegram came informing his parents of his death. She was at 'The Top Monkey' a village pub where she lived and worked with her Aunts who owned it. The milkman came and told her that she'd better get home to Brookside Crescent as there was a problem. When Betty arrived at the house, her mother was sitting on the stairs, distraught and clutching the unopened telegram. She 'knew' what it contained and when Betty opened the envelope, mother was sadly proved right. He was one of four young men from Brookside Crescent who died in World War 2.
Joe was not an enthusiastic letter writer and he tended to write short ones but nevertheless they were the important and only link with home and family when he was far away from Northop Hall. He refers at times to friends and neighbours back home in the village. The originals are very frail and the writing quite faint so we have transcribed them rather than scan them. They were not dated so we have guessed at the chronology.
Regiment 3rd Bn Welsh Guards
Service Rank and Number Guardsman 2738372
Military Cemetery/Memorial Cassino Memorial
Ref No. of Grave or Memorial Panel 4
Country of Cemetery/Memorial Italy
Medals Awarded
Date and Circumstances of Death Died on 19th February 1944 aged 20yrs. He was shot by a sniper.
Biographical Details Known
Raymond was born on the 6th October 1924. His parents were Herbert Edward and Vera Doris Hooson. They had originally lived in the 'Top Lodge' at Sychdyn but in about 1926 moved to a new council house in Brookside Crescent, Northop Hall. Ray was one of five children. He had one older sister, Betty and three younger siblings Reg, Doreen and Alec. He went to Northop Hall school and then onto the 'Central School' in Shotton after which he worked in the brickworks. He was called up to the army when he was 18 in 1942 and suddenly became known as Joe. He became a guardsman in the Welsh Guards and trained in Caterham before serving in North Africa and finally Italy.
His sister Betty remembers the day when the telegram came informing his parents of his death. She was at 'The Top Monkey' a village pub where she lived and worked with her Aunts who owned it. The milkman came and told her that she'd better get home to Brookside Crescent as there was a problem. When Betty arrived at the house, her mother was sitting on the stairs, distraught and clutching the unopened telegram. She 'knew' what it contained and when Betty opened the envelope, mother was sadly proved right. He was one of four young men from Brookside Crescent who died in World War 2.
Joe was not an enthusiastic letter writer and he tended to write short ones but nevertheless they were the important and only link with home and family when he was far away from Northop Hall. He refers at times to friends and neighbours back home in the village. The originals are very frail and the writing quite faint so we have transcribed them rather than scan them. They were not dated so we have guessed at the chronology.
2738372 Gdsmn Hooson J
G A Division
A/A Coy
Welsh Guards
Home forces
G A Division
A/A Coy
Welsh Guards
Home forces
To all at home
I am ok and arrived at camp at 10.00 o clock on Thursday morning in nice time. I hope Alec is ok and not playing with the badge and I will send him a photo or two I am going to get of our lads in war weapons and it is really good. Well I bet at 5 to 1 as you thought I wouldn't write. Well I will see about that allowance and I hope you will wait patiently and not moider my head about it. Well Alec I hope you are going to school regularly and early. Well you can send me anything you like and let me know when it is Alec's birthday. Well I hope to be with you shortly, 12 weeks time. Well I can't write no more at present. So good luck
Cheerio
Ray
Don't let Alec touch hat or badge.
I am ok and arrived at camp at 10.00 o clock on Thursday morning in nice time. I hope Alec is ok and not playing with the badge and I will send him a photo or two I am going to get of our lads in war weapons and it is really good. Well I bet at 5 to 1 as you thought I wouldn't write. Well I will see about that allowance and I hope you will wait patiently and not moider my head about it. Well Alec I hope you are going to school regularly and early. Well you can send me anything you like and let me know when it is Alec's birthday. Well I hope to be with you shortly, 12 weeks time. Well I can't write no more at present. So good luck
Cheerio
Ray
Don't let Alec touch hat or badge.
Guardsman 2738372 Joe/Ray Hooson
2738372 Gdsmn Hooson J
No 2 Coy
3rd Batt
Welsh guards
BNAF
No 2 Coy
3rd Batt
Welsh guards
BNAF
To all at home
I am sending this letter hoping it finds you ok and in good order for Christmas. Well I received a very nice letter from Reg the other day. I hope Alec is ok and you are all working. Well I am in a different Coy now. I have not received the parcel yet but it will turn up shortly I hope. Well I have wrote a letter to Reg and he is in good billets in London I believe. I wouldn't mind being home for Christmas like last time. Give my kind regards to Mr Peers. If I can get a box I will send you some things later on. Give my regards to those at the top house and to Sam. I have a mate from Chester here out of the Coldstream Guards. I'll bet Reg had a good leave the other week. I hope you will have as good a Christmas this time as last. I don't expect you can get a lot of things. I can get a few oranges and figs and dates out here and if I get hold of a box I will send you some. Boxes of any sort are very hard to get. Well there is a lad from Rhes - y Cae (?) here. Well I will finish now as tea is ready. So cheerio and good luck.
Love from Joe
I am sending this letter hoping it finds you ok and in good order for Christmas. Well I received a very nice letter from Reg the other day. I hope Alec is ok and you are all working. Well I am in a different Coy now. I have not received the parcel yet but it will turn up shortly I hope. Well I have wrote a letter to Reg and he is in good billets in London I believe. I wouldn't mind being home for Christmas like last time. Give my kind regards to Mr Peers. If I can get a box I will send you some things later on. Give my regards to those at the top house and to Sam. I have a mate from Chester here out of the Coldstream Guards. I'll bet Reg had a good leave the other week. I hope you will have as good a Christmas this time as last. I don't expect you can get a lot of things. I can get a few oranges and figs and dates out here and if I get hold of a box I will send you some. Boxes of any sort are very hard to get. Well there is a lad from Rhes - y Cae (?) here. Well I will finish now as tea is ready. So cheerio and good luck.
Love from Joe
2738372 Gdsman Hooson
Welsh Guards
RNY AW A/A
C/O A.P.O 5145
Welsh Guards
RNY AW A/A
C/O A.P.O 5145
To all at home
I'm hoping you are all ok and working hard. How is Reg getting on? How does he like the army? Well myself I am ok and browned off to blazes. Betty's ok isn't she? Well you can give my kind regards to Sam Williams and Tom. Well I wouldn't mind 14 days now. Well I expect you can see that I can't write a big lot about anything. But that's ok. I don't think I can write any more at present but I will write shortly. Cheerio and best of luck.
Love Joe
You can send me a bob or two if you like.
I'm hoping you are all ok and working hard. How is Reg getting on? How does he like the army? Well myself I am ok and browned off to blazes. Betty's ok isn't she? Well you can give my kind regards to Sam Williams and Tom. Well I wouldn't mind 14 days now. Well I expect you can see that I can't write a big lot about anything. But that's ok. I don't think I can write any more at present but I will write shortly. Cheerio and best of luck.
Love Joe
You can send me a bob or two if you like.
2738372 Gdsmn Hooson
No 2 Coy
3rd Batt
Welsh Guards
CMF
No 2 Coy
3rd Batt
Welsh Guards
CMF
To all at home
I hope you are all ok and working well. As you can see I have left BNAF.
Well I had Dad's letter before I left for Italy. Well never mind about that. I hope everything is ok. I have had one of your parcels but I did not receive the big parcel of fags 400.
Well you can tell Mr Jones I am sorry I could not get him a photo owing to me moving. Well I hope Alec is ok. Give my love to Betty and tell her I will write as soon as possible. Is Reg down at London now or is he still in Hants. Well I hope Doreen is still down in Sandycroft. Well thank dad very much for sending that pipe. I have seen the Jones boys once or twice. Give my kind regards to Mr O Peers and Sammy. I hope Ken Groves is out of dock now. I hear he is in dock in Australia. well as you say Reg is on leave about now. Lucky bloke. Well I have to finish. Cheerio and love to all
Joe
I hope you are all ok and working well. As you can see I have left BNAF.
Well I had Dad's letter before I left for Italy. Well never mind about that. I hope everything is ok. I have had one of your parcels but I did not receive the big parcel of fags 400.
Well you can tell Mr Jones I am sorry I could not get him a photo owing to me moving. Well I hope Alec is ok. Give my love to Betty and tell her I will write as soon as possible. Is Reg down at London now or is he still in Hants. Well I hope Doreen is still down in Sandycroft. Well thank dad very much for sending that pipe. I have seen the Jones boys once or twice. Give my kind regards to Mr O Peers and Sammy. I hope Ken Groves is out of dock now. I hear he is in dock in Australia. well as you say Reg is on leave about now. Lucky bloke. Well I have to finish. Cheerio and love to all
Joe
3 Bn Welsh Guards CMF
Dear Mr Hooson
By now you will have heard that your son was killed in action on Saturday February 19th. he was one of a 'day fighting patrol' of which I was in command. Our orders were to clear a valley about a mile long in which there were known to be some enemy and make touch with the regiment on our flank. We got about 3/4 of the way and killed two Germans and wounded another when we were sniped at. Your son was killed instantaneously by a bullet through the temple. He was about six yards from me when it happened and I can certify that he will have suffered nothing. I have known your son on and off ever since he joined this regiment and I needn't tell you how sad I am to have to write this letter. His platoon sergeant wishes to join with me in bearing witness to his exemplary devotion to duty and cheerfulness throughout our period in this time - a period which was a considerable test not only of courage but also of physical endurance. In addition to this he was very well liked in this platoon both by NCOs and guardsmen. My sympathy goes out to you and all those near to him but I do feel you should be very proud of him because he died in a great cause. His personal effects have been kept and should reach you very shortly.
Yours sincerely
WAD Juxon Bell Lieut.
By now you will have heard that your son was killed in action on Saturday February 19th. he was one of a 'day fighting patrol' of which I was in command. Our orders were to clear a valley about a mile long in which there were known to be some enemy and make touch with the regiment on our flank. We got about 3/4 of the way and killed two Germans and wounded another when we were sniped at. Your son was killed instantaneously by a bullet through the temple. He was about six yards from me when it happened and I can certify that he will have suffered nothing. I have known your son on and off ever since he joined this regiment and I needn't tell you how sad I am to have to write this letter. His platoon sergeant wishes to join with me in bearing witness to his exemplary devotion to duty and cheerfulness throughout our period in this time - a period which was a considerable test not only of courage but also of physical endurance. In addition to this he was very well liked in this platoon both by NCOs and guardsmen. My sympathy goes out to you and all those near to him but I do feel you should be very proud of him because he died in a great cause. His personal effects have been kept and should reach you very shortly.
Yours sincerely
WAD Juxon Bell Lieut.
I am writing this on behalf of all the boys in the Platoon to let you know how deeply grieved we were when we were old that 'Joe' had been killed when on patrol. I was not with him myself at the time but all the boys say that he had done good work up to the time the Boche got (him). He had been my pal ever since we joined up and we had soldiered together in England and North Africa and for the days previous to his death we shared a dugout and everything else we had and you may be assured that he will always be remembered by me and the boys and the remainder of the squad whom will by now know of his death.
Yours sincerely
H R Jones Guardsman
Yours sincerely
H R Jones Guardsman
It is unclear which officer sent this note to his wife Gwennie but she must have visited the Hoosons as requested and handed the note to the family.
Joseph Raymond Hooson (back row left) with his comrades
The original was handwritten. There is a mistake on this typed version. It should read "He has played his part and by so doing, this coy has the most wonderful name in this part of the world" (Coy means Company)
Many thanks to Ray's sister Betty Thomas and his brother Alec Hooson for the information, correspondence and photographs