Name
William George Hobbs
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/11/1914
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
7948
Scots Guards
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 11
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial,
St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey,
Pre War
Born in the first quarter of 1892, William George Hobbs was the son of William (Snr.) and Susan (née Hollingsworth) Hobbs. His parents were married on 15 December 1989 at St John Evangelist church in Charlotte Street, Camden, London.
At the 1901 Census, the family was living in School Lane, Bushey. His 32-year-old father, who is employed as a police constable, and 37-year-old mother have three children; Elizabeth, William G and Charles. Their ages are 10, 9 and 1 respectively. Also living with the family is the 20-year-old brother of William (Snr.) who is employed as a Gardener. The birthplaces are given as Lee in Kent for William (Snr.) and his brother, Thaxted in Essex for Susan, St Pancras in Middlesex for Elizabeth and Bushey in Hertfordshire for the two boys.
At the 1911 Census, 19-year-old William (Jnr.) was living at 144, School Lane with his 46-year-old mother, Susan, and 11-year-old brother, Charles. William is working as a brass cleaner at a boarding school. His father and other siblings are not present. There is no death recorded for a William Hobbs in the Watford registration district which tallies with his age at the 1901 census, so it is assumed he is elsewhere on the day of the census.
Recorded as born in Watford (believed more accurately to be Bushey)and was living in Bushey when he
enlisted in London.
Wartime Service
William enlisted London as Guardsman 7948 with the Scots Guards. He was initially reported as missing in the St James’ Church parish magazine and it was later assumed that he had been killed in action on 11 November 1914. His pension record card similarly states “Date unknown missing”.
He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing and is also remembered with honour on the Bushey memorial and at St James’ Parish Church.
His pension record card gives his mother as his dependant, living at 60 Park Road, Bushey.
Additional Information
Information provided with the kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
