History


Did you know? Hobson Street was named after Sgt. Fredrick Hobson, VC.

SGT. FREDERICK HOBSON, VC
1873-1917

Married: Louise Alice Esther Moses - 1904

Frederick Hobson was born on September 23, 1873 in Norwood, London, England. While in his early twenties, prior to 1897, he joined the Wiltshire Regiment in England and served with merit in the Boer War in South Africa. Soon after his marriage to Louise Moses in 1904 he immigrated to Canada, settling first in Barrie, then Simcoe and finally, in 1912, Galt where he had accepted employment as a stores clerk. At the outbreak of World War I, and against his wife's wishes, he tried on three separate occasions to enlist. He was rejected each time because of his age. Still determined to serve, he travelled to Simcoe and, giving his age as 39 instead of his true age of 41, enlisted in the Norfolk Rifles with the rank of corporal. Immediately he travelled to Toronto where, on November 10, 1914, he signed his attestation papers with the 20th Battalion and was given the rank of Sergeant. He sailed for England on May 15, 1915 and arrived in France on September 14, 1915. He served in the trenches for two years and was wounded once before he was killed in a battle that took place between Hill 70 and the city of Lens. During a strong enemy attack, a Lewis gun in a forward post of a communications trench leading to the enemy lines was buried by a shell and the crew, with the exception on one man, killed. Sergeant Hobson realized the importance of the gun in battle and rushed in to dig it out and get into action against the enemy which was then advancing down the trench. A jam caused the gun to stop firing and, though wounded, Sergeant Hobson left the remaining gunner to fix the gun and advanced along the trench with bayonet and rifle to single-handedly hold off the enemy until he has killed by a rifle shot. By this time the Lewis gun was once again working and the enemy was beaten off. In recognition of his bravery and sacrifice, Sergeant Hobson was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for valour. His sacrifice is recognized by a plaque in Valour Place in front of the Cambridge Armoury.