Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

On the 20 September 1917, Lieutenant Charles Henry Ffrench Nobbs was shot down and captured whilst flying a Sopwith Pup with 66th Squadron RFC.

Nobbs was born on 18 June 1895 at Norfolk Island. “Harry” Nobbs had left Australia as an original member of the 6th Light Horse Regiment in 1914, and served at Gallipoli during 1915. One of 16 children, he was the eldest son of a Polynesian father from Pitcairn Island and a Maori mother from Great Barrier Island in New Zealand. He was a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian of “mutiny on the Bounty” fame.

Harry was shot down by ground fire near Polygon Wood in Belgium, whilst strafing German ground troops. He was lucky to survive as he had caused numerous casualties amongst the Germans and his aircraft caused many more when he crashed amongst the enemy troops. He was saved from a lynch mob by an officer who escorted him, at the run, for two kilometres from the scene. A close relative, George Rawdon Ffrench Nobbs, also of Norfolk Island, was killed in action 9th August 1916, at the battle of Romani with the 1st Light Horse Regiment AIF. Nobbs also served in the RAAF from 1925, and during WW2 he served in Canada, Scotland and India. He was discharged as a Flying Officer in 1947.

Son of Charles Chase Ray NOBBS and Agnes nee ALLEN

Husband of Audrey nee COPPERTHWAITE

On release from German POW Camp he  spent a period in England then returned to Norfolk Island then travelled to Australia where he worked as a pilot on aircraft operating to and in New Guinea. But there is evidence he was involved with Oriomo Oil Expedition in New Guinea prospecting for oil.

Returned to England in late 1920s where he met and married Audrey. Lived in Yorkshire and operated initially a car service business and later a brewery machine supplier.

His many friends in the bottling industry will learn with profound regret of the untimely passing of Mr C H Ff Nobbs - Nobby to his family - who passed away in the early hours of January 7th. The bottling industry is well known for the good fellowship which exists among those whom it is the ‘daily work and common task’ Nevertheless, Nobby was an outstanding character, because of his ability to make not merely business acquaintances but real friends. Indeed if one were asked to account for his undoubted success in life, it may lay in the very fact that his mission was to be a pal amongst pals.

Born on Norfolk Island in 1896 he was educated at Kings School, Parramatta, NSW. A true son of the Empire, he joined the Australian Light Horse and at the outbreak of the 1914 war was in the Middle east subsequently transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. Shot down in operations he was for eighteen months a prisoner of war in Germany, an experience which doubtless contributed to his ill health which dogged him during the latter part of his life.

After making and to quote him “losing a pile” in New Guinea, he settled in England and in 1930 married Miss Audrey Copperthwaite, whose family is connected with Messrs. Russells, the well known Malton brewers.

When the second World War began he made tremendous efforts to re-join the RAF and much resented on being turned down on medical grounds. Nobby, hated to use his own words, ‘being not wanted’, but this illusion was quickly dispelled when Mr Anthony Eden’s call to arms came and he was well to the fore in organising the L D V, afterwards of course the Home Guard in which he held the rank of Major in command of A Company, 7th North Riding Battalion for three years. He was a member of the Camulodunum Masonic Lodge, Malton and his interest in local affairs culminated in his appointment as Chairman of the Amortherby Parish Council in 1944 which office he occupied until his decease. He was also President of the Amortherby Cricket Club and was an enthusiastic player until it became necessary for him to curtail this activity due to health reasons.”