Ernest Derek Glass HOOPER [1903-1996]

Derek Hooper.PNG, by EMRide

 Major/Lt.Col, Intelligence Corps, GHQI 

“This officer joined the BAAG about the middle of 1942 and was immediately posted to Advanced HQs at Waichow.  During this initial period he was in charge of field operations which resulted in the escape of a large number of Indians from Hongkong.  In April 1943 he assumed command of our Advanced HQs and this coincided with an unfortunate rounding up by the Japanese of some of our most important agents in Hongkong.

This threatened to result in the collapse of our whole intelligence net work, but due to Col. Hooper’s untiring energy and devotion to duty, this was avoided and a new organisation set up within a few months was producing better intelligence than ever.

In 1944 when the enemy advance south from Changsha threatened to cut off our Eastern posts, it became urgently necessary for reinforcements of supplies and personnel to be sent through.  Col. Hooper was put in charge of the expedition which had to travel some hundreds of miles through unprotected country which was rapidly being penetrated by the enemy from three sides.

He accomplished his mission and with commendable initiative, gave all posts operation orders covering the initial period during which they were likely to be cut off.  On his return he took part in the long and arduous evacuation from Kweilin to Kunming.

In November 1944 it was decided to establish BAAG HQs in Eastern Kwangtung behind the enemy lines and Col. Hooper was placed in command of the Advance Party which he organised and safely set up his post in January 1945.  From then on until the surrender he remained behind the lines [his HQ was Hingning] and was in command of all our eastern escape and intelligence work.  Periodic movements of large bodies of enemy troops through this area meant that our posts had to be continuously mobile and throughout all these moves not only did we suffer no losses but the standard of work was most efficiently maintained.  During May, June and July in company with the Commandant, Col. Hooper made a complete reconnaissance of the fringe of the enemy occupied areas covering some hundred of miles on foot and through much country devoid of all organised allied military control.

Throughout this period of three years, Col. Hooper’s work – whether operational or administrative, has been of an extremely high order; he has been a tower of strength and an inspiration to all with whom he has worked, officers, other ranks, Chinese staff and agents alike; he has always maintained through extremely delicate and trying times, those cordial relations with the Chinese military and civil authorities which were vital to the success of the work of the BAAG.  The more difficult and dangerous the situation the more did his qualities of leadership and command inspire confidence in Chinese Authorities as well as his own personnel; his extreme devotion to duty is shown by the fact that although most of his work was done under the trying conditions of the forward areas, he only took two weeks’ leave in three years.

From my close and personal knowledge of his record I have no hesitation at all in describing Col. Hooper’s service rendered in the field as being outstanding and of immense value to the Allied Cause.”  (signed) LT Ride, Colonel.