HOBSON, John

John Hobson was born in Stourbridge and lived at 6 The Cliff, Stourbridge. He attended Enville Street Council School and volunteered for the 10th (Service) Battalion of the Worcesters. This battalion saw service in the Loos area until May 1916 when it moved to the Somme. On the 3rd July the battalion were ordered to attack and just after 3 a.m. rushed across no man's land to the German positions in La Boisselle. The village was in complete ruin but when light came it could be seen that the village had been won. The cost was very high, with 9 officers and 44 men killed, 106 missing presumed dead, and 203 wounded. After new drafts the battalion returned to the front line at Bazentin. On 30th July they attacked again. Little ground was won and Private John Hobson was killed in action. He is commemorated on the Thiepval, Stourbridge, St. Thomas's church and the former Enville Street school Memorials.