HOBSON William Albert

Appears in the Worcester/Worcestershire Roll of Honour Book for army casualties located in Worcester Cathedral as William Hobson with the information: The Australian Imperial Forces.

Albert Hobson was born in Stourbridge and attended Enville St. Council School. Before 1914 he emigrated to Australia and, when his new country joined the Great War, he volunteered for the Australian infantry. He served in the 9th Battalion, which was part of the ANZAC forces assembled for the 1915 Dardanelles campaign. They landed at ANZAC Cove on the 25th April and suffered heavy casualties in the landing. Private Albert Hobson was one of those killed in action that first day. He was 31 years of age. He is also commemorated on the Stourbridge St. Thomas’s church memorial.

William Albert Hobson enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force for the duration of the war on 22nd August 1914 at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. On his attestation paper he gave his place of birth as Stourbridge, Worcestershire, his age as 25 years and 7 months and his occupation as a Potter. His next of kin was his father Edward Hobson, 8 The Cliff, Stourbridge, Worcestershire, England. William was 5 feet 4 inches tall with a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair.

William embarked to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Alexandria on 2nd March 1915. He was posted missing at Gaba Tepe since 25th April on 2nd May 1915. This was amended to killed in action as a result of a Court of Inquiry Proceedings held on 5th June 1916 in France.

The following information from Corporal W.S. Ward, 884, M.G.S. 49th Battalion (previously 9th Battalion) was presented at the court proceedings:
Hobson was killed at Victoria Gully, not far from Artillery Rd, Anzac, at the Landing. I saw his grave in the cemetery of the 9th Batt: There was a little board on the grave with his name on it, and around the grave were placed white stones and brass shell caps. I was in the M.G.S. at the Peninsula and did not see Hobson killed. L/Cpl R.Ryan M.G.S. 49th Batt: (previously 1st Reinf. 9th Batt.) could give full details of Hobson’s death. I have not seen his name before on the missing list.

Australian Service Records Reference: Barcode 5265902 Series Accession No B2455 Location: Canberra
Accessed via: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/

William Hobson has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Lone Pine Memorial.