Lieutenant (temporary Captain) Albert Victor Hoper, Royal Army Service Corps (attached Royal Indian Army Service Corps), was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire. During the whole period under review, this officer was second-in-command of the unit, and as such was responsible for the administrative work of the company. After troop carrying the 51st (Highland) Division throughout the Tripoli operations this unit concentrated at Benghazi by the middle of February and was at once ordered to prepare to carry the 4th (Indian) Division. Owing to the unsparing efforts of Captain Hoper the damage and deficiencies of the previous operations were made good in under ten days and the unit was able to move off to Tobruk to carry the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade with 100 per cent. vehicles on the road. On the march from Tobruk forward, orders were received for the 2nd Gurkha Rifles to proceed by double stages for a special mission in the forward area. As two platoons with young platoon commanders were involved, Captain Hoper volunteered to take charge of this party. I was later personally informed by the O.C. 2nd Gurkha Rifles of the excellent work Captain Hoper had done in getting the unit forward in forced time under difficult conditions. While this infantry unit was located in Medenine carrying out intensive patrols into Matmata Hills, Captain Hoper arranged the transport detail himself, and took out some of the largest parties of vehicles carrying patrols over no-man’s-land up to the hills. Throughout the operations this officer worked unsparingly, being always ready to turn out by day or night and spending long hours on the road, locating and seeing to the welfare of detached parties of this company. Since returning to lines of communication duty he has continued to set a high example of work and efficiency, holding several training courses for N.C.O.s, etc., in addition to his normal duties. Captain Hoper was born in Kilkenny. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7682243&queryType=1&resultcount=1 Name Hoper, Albert Victor Rank: Lieutenant Service No: 201899 Regiment: Royal Army Service Corps Theatre of Combat or Operation: Middle East (Egypt and Libya) Award: Member of British Empire Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 25 November 1943 Date 1943-1944 Catalogue reference WO 373/77 29 August 1941 Gazette Website: PDF Navigator ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS The undermentioned Cadets, O.C.T.U's, to be 2nd Lts.:— from 16th Aug. 1941: — Albert Victor HOPER (201899) 23 November 1943 [M.B.E.] http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36261/pages/5172 Lieutenant (temporary Captain) Albert Victor Hoper (201899), Royal Army Service Corps attached Royal Indian Army Service Corps (Parkestone). 17 July 1945 http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37184/supplements/3734 Royal Army Service Corps. Maj. (temp.) A. V. HOPER, M.B.E. (201899). See this thread for ref: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/research-material/19413-volunteers-eire-who-have-won-distinctions.html#post195852 :irishflag[1]:
