HOBBINS, Albert Archibald

NAME: Albert Archibald HOBBINS

SERVICE NO: 914

YEAR OF BIRTH: 1896

PLACE OF BIRTH: Malvern

DATE OF ENLISTMENT: 20 August 1914

PLACE OF ENLISTMENT: St Kilda

AGE AT ENLISTMENT: 18

UNIT: 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, Battery 4

EMBARKED: 20 October 1914

TROOPSHIP: Transport A9 Shropshire

FATE: Killed in Action – 1 October 1917 – Ypres, Belgium

Albert Hobbins was born in Malvern to John Henry Hobbins and Ellen Fraser. Ellen died in 1898 when Albert was two and he went to live with his grandparents Robert and Jane Fraser at Muddy Creek where he attended the local school. After he completed school, Albert worked with the railways as an assistant guard.

Just weeks after news came through the war had begun, Albert enlisted at St Kilda on 20 August 1914. He was only eighteen years old and he was to be a driver with the 4th Battery of the 2nd Field Brigade.

4th BATTERY, 2nd FIELD ARTILLERY BRIGADE. Image courtesy of the Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/DAX2782/

On 27 February 1915, Albert arrived at Tel El Kabir. To his mates, he was known as Bert or Hobbie.

4TH BATTERY, 2ND FIELD ARTILLERY BRIGADE, EGYPT. Image courtesy of the Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/J03265/

The brigade went to Gallipoli, landing on 25 April 1915.

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/J03269/

4TH BATTERY, 2ND FIELD ARTILLERY BRIGADE, LANDING GALLIPOLI, 26 AUGUST 1915. THE HORSES WERE RETURNED TO THE TRANSPORT SHIP. Image courtesy of the Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/J03269/

After returning to Egypt, Albert became a gunner in early 1916 but he was soon off to France. The brigade arrived at Marseilles on 22 March 1916. From December 1916, Albert spent six months in hospital then he was sent to the Depot but was hospitalised again and did not return to the brigade until 5 August 1917.

On 8 October 1917, Albert was near Hell Fire Corner on Menin Road, near Ypres riding on a wagon when he was hit by a shell which also killed six horses. He was buried nearby.