Location
JAMES W.B. HOBBS
GNR. R.M.A.
LOST ON H.M.S. HOGUE
SEPT 22ND 1914
AGED 20
ALSO HIS ELDEST BROTHER
JACK, WILTS REGT.
KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE
JUNE 16TH 1915
Further Information
Gunner James William Biggs Hobbs and Private Jonathan Biggs Hobbs were sons of James Biggs Hobbs, and Jane Hobbs, of 32, Toker St., Eastney, Portsmouth. James's name appears on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Jonathan was aged 37 years when he was killed and is buried in Aeroplane Cemetery which is located 3.5 kilometres north east of Ieper town centre on the Zonnebeekseweg (N332), a road connecting Ieper to Zonnebeke in Belgium.
In 1914 HMS Hogue along with HMS Cressy and HMS Aboukir formed part of the Cruiser Force C patrolling the North Sea. They were all old Cressy class armoured cruisers which were vulnerable to attack by modern German ships. In fact the three ships were spotted by German submarine U9 which managed to sink them all within a few hours. For a full acount see the www.worldwar1.co.uk web site.
