HOBCROFT, Theodore Thomas
| Service Number: | 87 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 February 1915, Keswick Barracks Adelaide A Company (a Battalion original) |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Tailem Bend, Murray Bridge, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Mason's Improver |
| Died: | 26 May 1968, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia Cremated |
| Memorials: | Tailem Bend and District Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Feb 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 87, 27th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, Mitcham Camp HMAT Geelong Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 87, 27th Infantry Battalion, Keswick Barracks Adelaide A Company (a Battalion original) | |
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 87, 27th Infantry Battalion, Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on 31 May 1915 Roll No. 23/44/1 | |
| 12 Sep 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 87, 27th Infantry Battalion, The August Offensive - Lone Pine, Suvla Bay, Sari Bair, The Nek and Hill 60 - Gallipoli, 27 Bn landed 12-15 September and remained until the evacuation | |
| 8 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 87, 27th Infantry Battalion, "The Last Hundred Days", Returned to Australia 8 April 1919 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
In 1894 Edward and Eathel Hobcroft had their first-born son, Theodore Thomas Hobcroft. Theodore was born in Tailem Blend, a small town on Murray bridge and he later had a younger brother: Hurtle Horace Hobcroft. Theodore worked with his brother as a mason, a career centered around building things with brick, stone, and cement.
On the 2nd of Feb 1915, Theodore decided to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force, (17 months after WW1 started). At the age of 21, Theodore trained at Keswick Adelaide, and completed his initial training in Adelaide on the 16th of March. Eventually, Theodore joined the 27th Battalion (part of the 7th Brigade) and he would later do more extensive training in Egypt for 2 months. During this time in Egypt, Theodore learnt how to use a weapon, follow basic drill orders, become fit and many other useful qualities.
Theodore was shipped to Gallipoli in September, during this time he was ordered to attack in bad conditions, many of his peers died or became seriously wounded due to the firepower the Turkish defenders dealt. Fortunately, Theodore did not have to spend as much time as the average Australian soldier did in Gallipoli, as he had to be pulled out of battle when he became sick with influenza on 30th October 1915.
On the 22st March 1916, Theodore was shipped to the Western Front and in September was promoted to Lance Corporal.
On the 5th of November Theodore was ordered to participate in a series of attacks in the Somme Valley (France). Theodore experienced atrocious conditions filled with rain and heavy mud that led many of his peers to get stuck, making them easy for Germans to kill them with machine guns. This was known as the battle of Flers. However, even in these conditions, Theodore showed great resilience and courage, with him even performing a heroic act during this battle. This led him to become a temporary Corporal when his higher up went on holiday for 4 days after the battle. The very same day he was promoted to a permanent Corporal.
On the 1st of March, the Germans launched a heavy attack on Theodore's trench. There was a shortage of allied soldiers as the American reinforcements were still arriving. Because of this, Theodore experienced horrific slaughter and carnage, there were 348,000 German casualties and 328,000 Allied casualties. This was known as the German Spring Offensive. Theodore was promoted to Sergeant 1/3/17. On the 21st of March, Theodore was promoted once again to staff Sergeant, however, on the same day he became sick and had to be temporarily pulled out of battle.
While he was sick, his battalion was fighting in the Battle of Morlancourt. After treatment in hospital, he returned to his battalion in France (30/4/17) however, he was reverted to the rank of Corporal. On the 27th of June Theodore was accidently wounded from a rifle or a grenade, leading him to go to hospital again. Once he recovered, he did not join back into the 27th Battalion but instead trained recruits for the 7th Signal Brigade and was a reinforcement for the 27th Battalion.
On the 5th of February 1918, Theodore rejoined the 27th Battalion. He was again promoted to Sergeant 1/7/18 and Sergeant Vice 11/8/18. He participated in one last battle: The Battle of Hamel. Theodore was ordered to attack German forces with the support of American soldiers, powerful tanks and accurate artillery. The attack was extremely successful with minimal casualties in Theodore’s battalion.
On the 3rd of October 1918, Theodore partook in one last event. It was his battalion's job to capture Prospect Hill, something that they did successfully however 67 of his peers were wounded. This was the last major military action Theodore participated in. He was granted leave in England 29/10/18 and rejoined his unit 15/11/18 after the armistice.
Theodore returned to Australia on the 8th of April 1919 he moved houses to somewhere in Seacliff and was awarded 3 medals, the Victory Medal, which was awarded to all allies to commemorate their victory, a British war medal, which was for British people who served between the 5th of August 1914 to 11th of November 1918. Finally, the 1914-1915 star which represents people who served outside of Britain who served during these years
Theodore’s brother became the North Ward Councillor for Renmark in 1939. Theodore died on the 26th of May 1968 at the age of 72, he was cremated.
Bibliography
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