ENAbout
Alan Hooper served in New Guinea during the Second World War with the 1 Papuan Infantry Battalion (1 PIB) and the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU).
These narratives lead us through his wartime experiences in New Guinea and the life of his fiancée Nancy at home in Brisbane. Hooper wrote of patrols in remote provinces, supporting infantry battalions during operations at Buna and Rouna Valley, traversing the notorious Kokoda Track, and providing materials and resources for the American forces he served alongside.
Read the blog before you begin: Alan and Nancy Hooper Second World War correspondence
This third collection of 43 letters is from 1942, during which Alan and his unit undertook operations at Buna and Rouna Valley. He describes a difficult journey through very high terrain (4500 feet) along the Kokoda Track. Later, in June, a platoon of B Company, PIB, under Hooper’s command, was tasked with patrolling the Ioma, Mambare, Morobe, Waria River, and Garaina areas. Alan also assisted a U.S. aircrew whose craft had come down nearby, sharing the challenges of foraging for food after his supplies had run out. In October, his 'house' was shelled by the Japanese, and he described the death of a close colleague not long after. Of particular note is a letter from Nauseor Kaise to Hooper, asking for advice on a safe place for his tribes to live and providing intelligence on Japanese camps.
Meanwhile, Nancy joined the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF), initially based at Evans Head in northern NSW. She wrote about her growing confidence and her promotion to General Clerk.
Note: Several items are incomplete or have missing pages.
Hints and tips: Guidance will be displayed under each page being transcribed.
