An excellent Great War Military Cross group awarded to Serjeant, later Lieutenant E.J. Hobbs, Royal East Kent Yeomanry who saw service at Gallipoli from 24th September 1915 before later serving in Egypt and then being commissioned would later be awarded the Military Cross in the London Gazette of 15th October 1918 for successfully bringing back his wounded left-hand man who was by then unconscious in spite of a heavy bombing attack. He would go on to take part in the regiment’s Old Comrades Association for many years, including presiding over a dinner of 130 ex-members in 1957, 39 years after the Royal East Kent Yeomanry had been disbanded.
Group of 4: Military Cross, GVR cypher; 1914-1915 Star; (1340 SJT. E.J. HOBBS, R.E. KENT. YEO.) British War Medal and Victory Medal; (LIEUT. E.J. HOBBS.) mounted loose for wear.
Condition: loose-mounted for wear, Good Very Fine
Edgar James Hobbs was born in St. Johns, Margate, Kent and giving his trade as a Clerk enlisted at Margate on 25th January 1911. He would initially serve at home until on 24th September 1915 he would land at Gallipoli as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and would return home on 3rd April 1916, before later serving with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force from 8th July 1916 until his eventual discharge to a commission on 24th January 1917, subsequently serving as a Second Lieutenant with the Royal East Kent Yeomanry attached to the 6th Battalion, East Kent Regiment – the Buffs.
Hobbs would be awarded the Military Cross in the London Gazette of 15th October 1918, the citation reading:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. With two men he successfully covered the withdrawal of his platoon. Noticing that his left hand man was heavily engaged, he returned to his assistance and found him wounded and unconscious. In spite of a heavy bombing attack he succeeded in delaying the enemy’s advance and in bringing the man away to a place of safety. His determination and courage were beyond praise’
Hobbs would survive the war, his medals being sent to him at 90 Foxhall Road, Ipswich, he would go on to be a Bank Manager this noted in the 1939 Register and also been a Freemason listed as a member of Doric Lodge, Woodbridge.
Hobbs would still be alive in 1957 when he is noted as one of 130 old comrades who 38 years after the Royal East Kent Yeomanry disbanded, gathered for a re-union, Hobbs would preside over the dinner, this being reported in the East Kent Times and Mail on Wednesday 30th October 1957. Hobbs passed away on 28th March 1859 and at that time was a resident of 30 Bathurst Road, Folkestone, he left an estate of £2067 12s
