| Regimental number | 2082 |
| Place of birth | Ararat, Victoria |
| School | Tully State School, Queensland |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Occupation | Commission agent |
| Address | Antwerp, Victoria |
| Marital status | Married |
| Age at embarkation | 24 |
| Height | 5' 8.25" |
| Weight | 148 lbs |
| Next of kin | Wife, Mrs Susannah Hook, Antwerp via Dimboola, Victoria |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 37th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/54/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A9 Shropshire on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Corporal |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 37th Battalion |
| Recommendations (Medals and Awards) |
Military Medal Recommendation date: |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Passchendaele, Ypres, Belgium |
| Age at death | 31 |
| Place of burial | Dochy Farm New British Cemetery (Plot XI, Row A, Grave No. 15), Belgium |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 128 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Edward and Fanny HOOK; husband of Mrs S. HOOK, Church Street, Dimboola, Victoria. Native of Armstrong |
| Medals |
Military Medal 'For conspicuous gallantry in action East of YPRES on 4th October 1917. This N.C.O. single handed rushed an enemy Machine gun position, killing two of its crew with the bayonet and capturing the gun. later, he entered by himself a German dugout and captured ten prisoners.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 95 Date: |
| Other details |
War service: Western Front Embarked Melbourne, 25 September 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 11 November 1916, and marched in to 10th Training Bn. Proceeded overseas to France, 20 December 1916. Appointed Acting Corporal, 21 December 1916; reverted to Private, 14 January 1917. Taken on strength, 37th Bn, in the field, 15 January 1917. Appointed Lance Corporal, 1 August 1917. Admitted to 10th Field Ambulance, 6 September 1917 (influenza); discharged to unit, 11 September 1917; rejoined Bn, in the field, 12 September 1917. Reported missing, 12 October 1917; then, 11 February 1918, posted as 'Killed in Action, 12 October 1917.' Buried in isolated grave, by Pillbox 18, 1.25 miles WSW of Passchendaele, 5.5 miles NE of Ypres. Grave subsequently relocated to Dochy Farm New British Cemetery. Statement, Red Cross File No 1360811, 6030 Lance Corporal C.H. HUME, 37th Bn (patient, 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, England), 8 May 1919: 'Hook and I went into the stunt at Passchendaele on the evening of 11.10.17. (11th Oct. 17)[;] we hopped off on morning of 12.10.17. I returned to camp near Ypres about the 14.10.17. and Hook did not return with us. Some of the chaps who saw him killed told me about it.' Second statement, 2120 Pte F. MARTYN, 37th/43rd Bn (patient, 3rd Stationary Hospital, Rouen), 10 October 1918: 'I knew Jim Hook well. We were in the same plat. No. XIII ... I saw him killed outright by a shell at Passchendaele one morning in November last. He was in charge of a fatigue party at the time. Others were wounded by the same shell and I helped to take them away. I do not know exactly where Hook was buried but the ground where he fell remains in our possession.' Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, HOOK James
Red Cross File No 1360811 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
