Frederick Hobbs

Personal Information
Date of Birth	24 Apr 1894
Place of Birth	Bideford, Devonshire, England
Death	1963
Place of Death	York, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	20 years, 11 months
Description	4½" (1.64m) tall; weight 135 lbs (61.2 kg); dark complexion, blue eyes, dark hair
Occupation	farm hand
Religion	Presbyterian
Address	'Mill Lane Farm', Beenup, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr Thomas Heard Hobbs
Military Information
Reg Number	R452
Date of Enlistment	8 Mar 1915
Rank	Lance Corporal
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, C Company, 2nd tour was with 16th Reinforcements / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division
Date of Embarkation	9 Jun 1915 - 30 Jun 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A11 Ascanius
Date of Return	3 Jan 1916 - 5 Feb 1916
Ship Returned On	HMAT A38 Ulysses
Date of Embarkation	10 Oct 1916 - 3 Dec 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A23 Suffolk
Date of Return	22 Dec 1918 - 5 Feb 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A41 Bakara
Fate	Returned to Australia (medical) Wounded in Action 3 May 1917 at 2nd Bullecourt Wounded in Action 11 Aug 1918 at Lihons Returned to Australia
Monument	Armadale War Memorial (Beenup panel)
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Following six weeks general training, Fred was allocated to C Company of the 28th Battalion that was being raised in Western Australia.

He travelled with them to Egypt and on to the Gallipoli Peninsula from Alexandria on 4 Sep 1915 aboard the HMT Ivernia. On 22 Oct 1915 he was hospitalised with influenza, and by the time he was evacuated by the 7th Field Ambulance to Alexandria, he had also contracted severe dysentery.

Treated at 21st General Hospital in Alexandria, he was sent home to Australia 3 Dec 1916 on the HMAT A38 Ulysses from Suez for three months to recover and regain strength.

Boarding the HMAT A23 Suffolk on 10 Oct 1916, he returned on it to England. Following some training he rejoined his unit in France on 14 Mar 1917 near Bapaume via the HMT Princesse Clementine from Folkestone, and slots back into C Company.

On 3 May 1917 at what is known as Second Bullecourt he received wounds to his hand and leg. Following initial treatment, he embarked on HMHS St David at Rouen and was admitted to the Lewisham Military Hospital in England on 17 May 1917.

Following more complete treatment at Lewisham, he was released to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital where he spent three months regaining strength before rejoining his unit on 28 Oct 1917 in the front line at Broodseinde.

On 12 Apr 1918, Fred was charged with, contrary to orders, 'going out to shoot game'. For this sin he was awarded seven days Field Punishment.

In his battalion's attack on Lihons Hill on 11 August, Fred was again wounded in action, this time with severe wounds to his left thigh and chest. On 16 Aug 1918 he was stable enough to be invalided to the UK for further treatment at the 5th Southern General Hospital in Portsmouth, and in December he was shipped back to Australia.

Discharged at 5th Military District 1 Apr 1919

"...was seven weeks in Gallipoli, when he fell ill of enteric; was invalided to Australia, and returned to the front in October, 1916."

Post War

1935 married Mabel Doreen Potts in Beverley.

Electoral Roll entries - 1925 - 1928 a farm hand at Dale, via Beverley; 1936 - 1962 a farmer at Morbinning, Beverley. On 27 Nov 1951 his farm was affected by a fire requiring assistance from neighbours and friends.

After Frederick's death Mabel moves to son Desmond Bruce's property "Crathorne" at Kojonup where she remains until her death 1980s

One of 3 brothers all of whom served in the 28th Battalion. Brother Sergeant Richard Charles Hobbs (Beverley farm hand) married in England and did not return to Australia.

Hobbs drive in Armadale is named after the three brothers.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial