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John Hobson
44142, Private, 13th Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Killed in action, 22 June 1917, aged 20
Buried at Bard Cottage Cemetery, Belgium
CWGC registered (Mr J Hobson, Ivy Mount, Great Orme Rd, Llandudno)
John Hobson, the son of John and Jane Hobson (née Roberts) was born in Llandudno on 11 February 1897. He was the second son named John as his sibling, John, born in 1890 had died in 1896. The Census for Wales of 1901 records the family living at “Ivy Mount”, Tyn-y-Coed Road, Llandudno – John Hobson (senior) was described as a baker and the younger John (4) as at school (St. George’s). Also included in the Census was John’s elder brother Evan Hobson (13) (qv), his sister Elizabeth (9) who later married John Basford (qv), and brother David Hobson (5) (qv). John left school in April 1910 and the Census of the following year recorded him as a shoe maker.
Described as a plasterer’s apprentice, John Hobson signed his attestation papers to join the army on 29 February 1916. The following day, he was transferred to the Army Reserve class B. He was called up on 13 July 1916 to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers’ depot at Wrexham and posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion at Litherland. John embarked for France on 19 December 1916 and joined 5 Infantry Base Depot the following day. On 1 January 1917, he joined the 13th (Service) Battalion RWF at ‘D’ Camp near Poperinge. On 26 January 1917, he received a gunshot wound to the upper left arm and was admitted to 130 (St. John) Field Ambulance. After recovering at “NM” Casualty Clearance Station, he rejoined his battalion on 18 February 1917.
John Hobson was killed in action on 22 June 1917 near Ypres aged 20. The battalion’s war diary for the day does not mention any casualties but records shell fire coming from the German lines. He was buried at Bard Cottage Cemetery, Belgium.
Known memorials:
- Llandudno Roll of Honour
- Llandudno War Memorial
- Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
- Siloh a Hyfrydle, Llandudno
- His brother David’s headstone, St. Tudno’s Churchyard
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