Frederick John Hobson was killed in action on this day in 1917.
Frederick Hobson was born 23 September 1873 in Norwood, London, the son of John Hobson (a stone mason) and Sarah Hobson (née Wallace - Dublin born) then living at 14 Wood St, Pancras.
With the death of his father and mother, and with only one surviving sister, Fred joined the British Army and served with the Wiltshire Regiment during the Second Boer War (1899-1902).
After a few years back in England he then emigrated to Galt, Ontario, Canada on 17 September 1904 (with his wife, children) and sister where he worked as a labourer.
Fred was one of the first to enlist in Simcoe. By then he had three children ages 8,6 and 1.
He joined the Norfolk Rifles, 20th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in November 1914. He must have lied about his age, as at 41, he was too old by nine years to enlist.
Indicating that age should not be a barrier, he went on to be awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for his heroic action at Hill 70 near Lens in August 1917.
According to the citation in the Gazette:
‘During a strong enemy counter-attack a Lewis gun in a forward post in a communication trench leading to the enemy lines, was buried by a shell, and the crew, with the exception of one man, killed. Sjt. Hobson, though not a gunner, grasping the great importance of the post, rushed from his trench, dug out the gun, and got it into action against the enemy who were now advancing down the trench and across the open. A jam caused the gun to stop firing. Though wounded, he left the gunner to correct the stoppage, rushed forward at the advancing enemy and, with bayonet and clubbed rifle, single handed, held them back until he himself was killed by a rifle shot. By this time however, the Lewis gun was again in action and reinforcements shortly afterwards arriving, the enemy were beaten off. The valour and devotion to duty displayed by this non-commissioned Officer gave the gunner the time required to again get the gun into action, and saved a most serious situation’.
He has no known grave.
He is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial and on a memorial plaque in Ontario.
His Victoria Cross and other medals are on display at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
57113 Sgt Frederick John Hobson VC
18 August 1917 killed in action.
Sources:
1881 England Census; 1911 Census of Canada; Canada, Military Honours and Awards Citation Cards, 1900-1961, Canada, War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty), 1914-1948; Find a Grave.
Research by Jonathan Vernon
Plaque photos by Alan L Brown, posted March 2004 to Ontario's Historical Plaques.