I had the pleasure today to meet the son of this remarkable man and he has provided me with the following information about his dad. He is also still in possesion of the drawings his dad did while a POW and as refferred to in the article. He has asked me advice about the the best way to conserve his dads history and the drawings?I am not able to assit , so any suggestions?
"This is the synopsis of the remarkable story of Lieut. E.A. Hooper and the events leading up to his escape from Singapore two days before the Allied surrender to the Japanese, on 17th February 1942, to the sinking of his ship H.M.S. Jarak. Continuing with his attempt to evade capture by sailing a native fishing boat to Ceylon, before his eventual capture by the Japanese on 4th April 1942.
He was then interned as a Prisoner of War (POW) in Singapore’s infamous Changi Jail, before being transferred to Chung-kai concentration camp on the Burma – Siam Railroad of Death. He survived three years of starvation, sickness and torture before being reunited with his family in South Africa in September 1945.
Whilst a prisoner of war Hooper recorded his experiences in a series of drawings, which he buried in a bottle that somehow found it’s way back to him several years later. Some of these are reproduced here and in a number of other books, including ‘Miracle on the River Kwai’ written by Ernest Gordon, who was one of the members of the crew of the native fishing boat commandeered by Hooper.
As a result of his efforts to save the Jarak and his crew, Hooper was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, for gallantry and six of his crew were also honoured with the Distinguished Conduct Medal and five Mention in Despatches were bestowed. His citation read: Lt Hooper completely disregarded his own safety in action in H.M.S. Jarak while fighting overwhelming odds in the form of three Japanese Cruisers and a Destroyer. Also for courage, tenacity and devotion to duty in an attempt to save H.M.S. Jarak after she had been severely damaged in action and for getting his ships company to safety when his ship was sinking.
Apart from being awarded the ‘Distinguished Service Cross,’ he also received the ‘1939-45 Cross’ the ‘Burma Star’ the ‘Pacific Star’ and the ‘Victory Medal.’ Later Hooper was awarded the ‘Order of the British Empire’ for his services to the Port of Singapore"
"This is the synopsis of the remarkable story of Lieut. E.A. Hooper and the events leading up to his escape from Singapore two days before the Allied surrender to the Japanese, on 17th February 1942, to the sinking of his ship H.M.S. Jarak. Continuing with his attempt to evade capture by sailing a native fishing boat to Ceylon, before his eventual capture by the Japanese on 4th April 1942.
He was then interned as a Prisoner of War (POW) in Singapore’s infamous Changi Jail, before being transferred to Chung-kai concentration camp on the Burma – Siam Railroad of Death. He survived three years of starvation, sickness and torture before being reunited with his family in South Africa in September 1945.
Whilst a prisoner of war Hooper recorded his experiences in a series of drawings, which he buried in a bottle that somehow found it’s way back to him several years later. Some of these are reproduced here and in a number of other books, including ‘Miracle on the River Kwai’ written by Ernest Gordon, who was one of the members of the crew of the native fishing boat commandeered by Hooper.
As a result of his efforts to save the Jarak and his crew, Hooper was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, for gallantry and six of his crew were also honoured with the Distinguished Conduct Medal and five Mention in Despatches were bestowed. His citation read: Lt Hooper completely disregarded his own safety in action in H.M.S. Jarak while fighting overwhelming odds in the form of three Japanese Cruisers and a Destroyer. Also for courage, tenacity and devotion to duty in an attempt to save H.M.S. Jarak after she had been severely damaged in action and for getting his ships company to safety when his ship was sinking.
Apart from being awarded the ‘Distinguished Service Cross,’ he also received the ‘1939-45 Cross’ the ‘Burma Star’ the ‘Pacific Star’ and the ‘Victory Medal.’ Later Hooper was awarded the ‘Order of the British Empire’ for his services to the Port of Singapore"