Name
Edward Thomas Mobbs
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/05/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
East Surrey Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 6.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Watford Town Hall Memorial, Wesleyan Methodist (now Bushey & Oxhey) Church Memorial, Oxhey
Pre War
Born on 7 October 1895, Edward Thomas Mobbs was the son of Edward and Annie (nee Beckett) Mobbs of 288 North End Road, Fulham. His parents were married in 1894 at the Register Office in Leeds. Annie died in 1941 in the Surrey SW district and Edward died, aged 89, on 6 December 1957 in Leighton Buzzard, Beds.
At the 1901 Census, Edward is 5 years old and living with his parents at Hope Cottage in Ightham, Kent. Edward (Snr.), a retired butcher and fruit grower, is aged 33 and Annie is 36 years old. The birthplaces are given as Clerkenwell for Edward (Snr.), Hartlepool for Annie and Fulham for Edward. Also present is 14-year-old Florence Martin, a domestic servant.
By the time of the 1911 Census, the family had moved to 124 High Street, Ilford. Edward (Snr.) is working as a butcher (employer) from home and Annie is assisting in the business. Edward is now aged 15 and at school. He was educated at Kent College in Canterbury, Kent, and at Colfe’s Grammar School in Lewisham, London. Also present are 41-year-old Louisa Hobbs, the sister of Edward (Snr.), 22-year-old niece, Lillie Bennett, 34-year-old butcher’s clerk, Grace Hardwick and 21-year-old butcher’s assistant, Ernest David Finch. Peacock’s Directory shows Edward living at 14 Kingsfield Road, Oxhey in 1915.
Wartime Service
Edward attested on 16 December 1914 at Armoury House, Finsbury Square, London for 4 years service in the UK in the Territorial Force. He gave his occupation as a civil engineer, aged 19, his height as 5’7″, and his residence as Watford. Initially serving as Private 2813 in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion of the Honourable Artillery Company, he served at Home from 16 December 1914 to 17 August 1915, before serving with the B.E.F. from 18 August 1915 to 10 January 1916, embarking from Southampton.
He was at 20 Casualty Clearing station from 23 December 1915, suffering from jaundice, before being transferred to 10 Stationary Hospital, St Omer on 26 December 1915, and then transferred again to 14 General Hospital, Wimereux on 28 December 1915. He was finally sent to England on 10 January 1916 aboard the Hospital Ship St David.
He served at Home again from 11 January 1916 to 28 February 1917, when he was commissioned to the East Surrey Regiment, serving as second lieutenant with the 1st Battalion. He was killed in action, shot through the head on 7 May 1917, at Fresnoy near Oppy. He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 18 August 1915. His father’s address on the medal card is given as Berkswell, 101 Rickmansworth Road, Watford.
He is commemorated on Bay 6 of the Arras Memorial in France and also at the Wesleyan Church (now Bushey and Oxhey Methodist) and on the St Matthew’s memorial. There is also an article about Edward in the West Herts and Watford Observer, dated 5 January 1918.
The National Probate Calendar for 1918 includes the following entry:
Mobbs Edward Thomas of 288 North End Road, Fulham Middlesex second-lieutenant H.M. Army died 7 May 1917 in France Administration (with Will) London 6 March to Edward Mobbs butcher. Effects £136 0s. 6d.
Additional Information
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk) Officers Record at National Archives WO 339/76938 - Paul Johnson
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Paul Johnson
