William Elton Hobbs
Memorial: Wickwar - Holy Trinity Church
Parents: William Barber and Rosa Ann Hobbs (nee Clutterbuck)
Pre-war occupation: Farm hand
Date of birth: 1888
Place of birth: Cromall
Date of death: 09/12/1918
Buried/Commemorated at: Wickwar
Age: 30
Further information:
William Elton Hobbs was born in 1888 in Cromhall and he was baptised on 16th December 1888 at Wickwar. His parents were William Barber Hobbs and Rosa Ann (nee Clutterbuck) Hobbs. His siblings were Dora, Rupert, Ronald and May. There was also another sister called Lena who died in infancy. William’s father was a farmer at Churchwood Farm in Cromhall
William died on 9th December 1918 at the age of 30 and he was buried at Wickwar on 12th December 1918. His death certificate states that he died of acute nephritis and oedema of the lung. He was declared to be a farm hand and there is no mention of military service
It is not known why William appears on the Wickwar Church Memorial since there seems to be no evidence that he served as a soldier or that he died in the war. The memorial in Wickwar Village Hall lists a W. E. Hobbs among those who served, but not among the dead. A W. E. Hobbs is also commemorated on the Chipping Sodbury Cottage Hospital Memorial Board (now at Yate and District Heritage Centre)
The CWGC has a record for Gunner W. E. Hobbs of the 263rd Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery (Service number 166503). He died in Palestine on 16th October 1918 and he is buried in Gaza War Cemetery. However, neither his age nor his next of kin details are included
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
Yate Heritage and District Heritage Centre and the book ‘Lest We Forget’ by Arthur Threlfall Searson