Frederick Hobson
Sergeant, 20th Battalion, 1st Central Ontario Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force
- Register No.
- 575 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 20th Battalion, 1st Central Ontario Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force (register: 1st Battalion, CEF) all CEF VCs →
- Date of action
- 18 August 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 17th October, 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 23rd September, 1873 at London
- Died
- 18th August, 1917 near Lens, France. (Killed in action)
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- on a Vimy Memorial, France
Digest of citation
On 18th August, 1917 North-West of Lens, France during a strong enemy counter attack the Lewis gun in a forward position was buried by a shell and the crew, with the exception of a one man, killed. Sergeant Hobson, although not a Gunner, grasping the great importance of the post, rushed from his trench, dug out the gun and got it into action. The gun then jammed and so Sergeant Hobson rushed forward at the advancing enemy with bayonet and clubbed rifle, holding them back until he himself was killed by a rifle shot
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
HOBSON, Frederick. (reg No. 575).
Sergeant. 20th Battalion, 1st Central Ontario Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force.
London Gazetted on 17th October, 1917.
Born on 23rd September, 1873 at London.
Died on 18th August, 1917 near Lens, France. (Killed in action).
Memorial on a Vimy Memorial, France.
Digest of Citation reads: On 18th August, 1917 North-West of Lens, France during a strong enemy counter attack the Lewis gun in a forward position was buried by a shell and the crew, with the exception of a one man, killed. Sergeant Hobson, although not a Gunner, grasping the great importance of the post, rushed from his trench, dug out the gun and got it into action. The gun then jammed and so Sergeant Hobson rushed forward at the advancing enemy with bayonet and clubbed rifle, holding them back until he himself was killed by a rifle shot.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: on a Vimy Memorial, France
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