Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit:

"C" Troop, 5th Anti-Tank Regiment, 4th Canadian Armoured Division, Canadian Army

Awarded on:

April 5th, 1945

Recommendation:
On 2 November Lieutenant Hooke was in command of a troop of M-10 17-pounders which was in support of "D" Company, the Algonquin Regiment. The company was ordered to capture the eastern portion of the village of Welberg (Map Reference 6436 Holland 1:25,000 sheet 15NE) to enable other troops to pass through and capture Steenbergen 6337. The company reached its objective and Lieutenant Hooke, on foot under intense mortar and shell fire, led each one of his guns into position. During the night 2/3 November he moved from gun to gun, carefully briefing the men as well as altering the position of two guns to meet the threat of enemy self-propelled guns which could be heard moving into position on the western edge of the village. At first light, German infantry supported by two self-propelled guns counter-attacked and drove the infantry behind Lieutenant Hooke's forward gun. Under this officer's personal supervision this gun was kept in action, destroying one enemy self-propelled gun and broke up the enemy infantry attack with its .5 machine gun fire. The infantry was able to come forward and regain its hold on the village from which the successful attack on Steenbergen was launched. There can be no doubt that Lieutenant Hooke's courage and coolness under fire and intrepid handling of his 17-pounders were responsible for the capture and retention of the village.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 5 April, 1945.