Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Albert Edward Roy Hobbs was born on the 4th of February 1888 at McLaren Flat, South Australian. Albert enlisted on the 19th of January 1916 in Adelaide, at the age of 28 as a Private and was given the service number of 5673 and was assigned to the 27th infantry battalion, 15th reinforcement. As an infantry soldier, Albert’s duty was to fight on foot and execute face to face combat with the enemy. Albert was a Methodist, a labourer and married to Una Lillian Hobbs (who was also Albert’s next of kin) at the time of enlistment.

Albert was quite short at 5’6 with blue eyes and brown hair and was examined as medically and dentally fit to join the army.[1]

Albert and his unit embarked from Adelaide on the HMAT A68 Anchises[2] on the 28th of august 1916, 8 months after his enlistment. He then disembarked at Plymouth, England on the 11th of October 1916 and was proceeded overseas to France on the 28th of December 1916 and marched into the 2nd Divisional Base Depot in Etaples on the 29th of December 1916. Here Albert began to train for several months and apparently had bronchitis from the 25th of November to the 1st of December 1916.

Albert continued training in Etaples but was then placed into hospital for about a month. After Albert came out of hospital he began to recover in convalescent depot. After about a month, Albert went overseas to France on the 20th of September 1917 where he served in the battle of Menin Road (located in Ypres France), a British offensive operation where the goal was to capture Gheluvelt Plateau. The Germans were the defenders and the British and Anzacs, the attackers. The battle lasted up to the 25th of September. Albert and his unit fought alongside 9 other Australian Infantry units and the Australians and British successfully achieved most of their objectives too. Albert successfully served without receiving any wounds and was able to return to England safely. Albert became eligible to earn the Victory Medal after fighting in the Battle of Menin Road.  

Albert served in the com depot for several months but then was diagnosed with heart disease on the 1st of February 1918. Albert was disembarked from active service on the 23rd of March 1918 and was then discharged about 2 months later on the 28th of June 1918. Albert’s reason of discharge was for being medically unfit.[3]

Albert’s total service in the army was 2 years and 161 days and his service aboard was 1 year and 208 days.[4] He wasn’t quite lucky, contracting both bronchitis and heart disease during service and also going into hospital several times. Albert also remained a private during the entire time of his service with no promotions or reductions.

Upon returning home Albert received the British War Medal and Victory Medal and never went back into the army, returning to his normal life.

Albert and Una had 6 children[5] after Albert's service in the war, one recorded to be born a year after the war. (1919) Albert lived onto the age of 80 which is surprising as he contacted both bronchitis and heart disease during his service in the war and medical technology at the time. His exact death date is 22nd of August 1968. The area of his death and cemetery are currently not known of.

[1] National archives of Australia Record search, B2455, HOBBS A E R 5673 http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=5265512&isAv=N.
[2] The AIF project, Albert Edward Roy Hobbs https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=139103.
[3] National archives of Australia Record search, B2455, HOBBS A E R 5673 http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=5265512&isAv=N.
[4] National archives of Australia Record search, B2455, HOBBS A E R 5673 http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=5265512&isAv=N.
[5] Douglas Hobbs, historical records https://www.myheritage.com/names/douglas_hobbs.

Daniel De Palma, March 2016