21365 Private T. Hobbs.7th wilts. Salonika Casualty

[Owen D]

Dimitiri gave me a heads up on this sale of medals.

click here forT.Hobbs Medals

Because last month bobpike sent me this photo from Salonika.

Thomas Hobbs is remembered on the small War Memorial in St. Philip's Church, Upper Stratton , Swindon.

He was born in Faringdon, lived in Stratton-St-Margaret, Swindon and enlisted in Reading.

Name: HOBBS

Initials: T

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Wiltshire Regiment

Unit Text: 7th Bn.

Age: 20

Date of Death: 24/04/1917

Service No: 21365

Additional information: Son of William and Eva Hobbs, of 4, West End Rd., Lower Stratton, Swindon.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: I. A. 10.

Cemetery: DOIRAN MILITARY CEMETERY

War Diary for 7th Wilts.Makes no mention of Pte Hobbs, because he is mentioned the next day

7th Wiltshire Tuesday 24th April 1917 Greece, DOIRAN Sector

6pm. Weather fine.

Strength. 29 Officers 893 OR. Detached 7 Officers 81 OR.

1 OR wounded. A Coy 13541 Pte WOODWARD W.R. (23.4.17)

3 OR struck off strength, 3 OR rejoined from detachment.

Observation. Night. 1945 party of enemy about 30 strong seen ascending N. slope of PETIT COURONNE. 2140 enemy replied to our barrage at once with field guns, putting barrage on our front line and then short sniping. Trench Mortar barrage in PATTY RAVINE. 2245 enemy again bombarded our front line.

Day. Our bombardment continued throughout the day.

He is listed the next day http://www.thewardrobe.org.uk/wardiary.php...mp;date=2421344

7th Wiltshire Wednesday 25th April 1917 Greece, DOIRAN Sector

6 pm. Weather fine.

Strength. 15 Officers 589 OR. Detached 7 Officers 80 OR.

2 Officers and 7 OR killed. 2nd Lieut COWTAN F.S.

" " PENRUDDOCKE T.

7 Officers and 217 OR wounded. Capt WAYLEN H.

Lieut LONGLAND A.C.

Capt. KNOTT F.H.

2nd Lt DIXON W.A.

2ndLt COWIE J.L.

Lieut CHANDLER C.H.

" BUTLER A.S.

5 Officers 89 OR missing. Capt OSBORN G.A.C. (believed killed)

Lieut PLOWMAN C.H.

" HAYWARD E.H.

" TAYLER J.A. (believed wounded)

2ndLt BARTRAM H.F.

3 OR Died of Wounds,

1 OR to Base, 2 OR struck off strength.

On the night of 24th/25th April the Battalion attacked O1 and O2 trenches, 12th HANTS attacked O3, 10th DEVONS PETIT COURONNE.

A Coy. Objective 21-27 (reference "Sketch of Enemy Trenches" South of DOIRAN 1/5000). 'A' Coy left B2 trenches at 2105. There was then strong T.M. fire and field gun fire on our front line. The company went down the PATTY RAVINE in sections in file and formed up in line in the ravine on the N.W slope. The enemy put up a very heavy T.M barrage in the ravine during the whole of this time, which caused many casualties. The company crawled up the slope in line and having got to the top advanced to the wire. Gaps had been cut but it was impossible to get into the trenches owing to M.G fire on left of O1 and heavy rifle fire all along the line and enemy's bombers. Knife rests had been put up on the parapet behind the main wire and partly blocked the gaps. The Bulgars supports were seen coming down the CT. on left of O1 and the front line was very strongly manned. Our advance was held up and the company was forced to lie down in shell holes in front of the wire. The main party never got through the wire. A few got into the enemy trenches but were not seen again. By this time all the officers had become casualties and Sgt TOWNSEND returned to our lines and reported the situation. He received orders from the company to withdraw and got what was left of them back to our lines, bringing what wounded he could with him. Two Lewis guns were put out of action, one was brought back undamaged.

'C' Coy. Objective Z8 - Z10.

The Company formed up outside our wire at 2115. Liaison was established and on the barrage lifting the company entered the enemy trenches and drove him out after lively fighting with bombs during which serious losses were inflicted. A portion of this sector was cleared but owing to lack of co-operation on left flank ('D' Coy being held up by the uncut wire) the company was forced, on the delivery of a vigorous enemy counter attack, to evacuate the enemy's lines. A rally of the company was effected 50 yards from the enemy's trenches but the attack failed owing to heavy casualties, all the company officers and 8 Senior N.C.Os being either killed or wounded. CSM THORNE who was left in command saw that there was nothing for it but to withdraw to our lines.

One Lewis gun did not return. The second was brought back undamaged.

'D' Coy. Objective Z11 - Z16.

The Company left our lines at 2126. Liaison was established and on the barrage lifting, the first two attacking waves got through the first line wire but were held up by the second line, which was insufficiently cut. The enemy trenches were packed with bombers who had great advantage of position as our men were unable to get through the wire. The company retried three times but on each occasion was brought to a standstill by the wire and owing to very severe casualties had no alternative but to withdraw to our lines. All the officers with the exception of 2nd Lt DENNE were either killed or wounded. One Lewis gun was put out of action by a shell, one returned to our lines undamaged. A gun which was sent up from the reserve (B ) Coy did not return.

'D' Coy were the first to get back to our lines followed by C, then 'A'. No Company ever got into direct communication with Battn HQRs and it was difficult to obtain information of what had taken place. The firing line was reorganised but the CO decided that a fresh attack with the reserve company and the few men available from the three assaulting companies would serve no useful purpose. The stretcher bearers worked throughout the night bringing in wounded.

In the early hours of 25th the 12th A and S Highlanders arrived to attack O1 and O2 through us. This order was subsequently cancelled and they returned to their camp at dawn.

The attack on O3 failed. A portion of the attacking companies got into the trenches but were driven out by strong counter attack.

The 10th DEVONS succeeded in getting on to PETIT COURONNE and held the position for four hours when they were ordered to withdraw.

HANTS casualties about 450 Devons 500, D.C.L.I (who supported and reinforced DEVONS) about 150. The Brigade casualties were about 2300 OR and 50 Officers. The 78th Bde attack failed. The 22nd Div gained their objective on P 4 1/2 and maintained their position.

Operation Orders and Casualty lists attached

During the next day the enemy artillery, after bombarding our lines at dawn was quiet. Stretcher parties led by M.O. went out at intervals during the day and brought wounded in. The trench mortar fired a few rounds otherwise the enemy did not interfere.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7th Bn. The Wiltshire Regiment. Appendix 'B'

O P E R A T I O N O R D E R No.21.

(This Order is to be read in continuation of and in conjunction with Orders Nos. 18 and 20).

FIGHTING KIT 1. Delete 'hectograph sketch' and substitute 'sketch of enemy trenches south of

DOIRAN 1/5000' and add at the end 'the hectograph sketches may also be

carried if desired and used for reporting subsequent dispositions'.

CONCEALMENT AND The extreme importance of concealment from the enemy's view during the time

RESTRICTION OF when they are moving to forming up positions, and of restriction of movement when

MOVEMENT. they are massed or in forming up positions, is to be impressed on all troops.

To assist this 2nd Lieut Rutter will arrange to mount a machine gun for anti-aircraft

work in order to keep hostile aeroplanes from close observation.

CONTACT AEROPLANES.

The following code has been arranged for work with contact aeroplanes :-

to indicate that the Signal will be:-

the Enemy is collect- By By

ing in the vicinity Klaxon Very

of:- Morse Lights

DEEP RAVINE Letter 'A' One White.

DOIR H " 'B' One Red.

HILL 340 " 'C' Red, White.

Mortar Ravine " 'D' White, Read. [as diary]

SABRE RAVINE " 'F' Two Reds.

The Klaxon Signal will be made first followed by the corresponding light signal.

Signals will be repeated at least twice.

2nd Lieut Yeoman will detail a Signaller to watch continually contact planes

when over our front and report the signal at once when seen. These reports

must be telegraphed immediately to Brigade H.Q. by 'priority message'.

GROUND FLARES

Ground flares may be used by Companies to signal backwards the position

of their front line troops, but only as an emergency means of communication,

and when telephone and visual fail.

[Page] 2.

For this purpose 6 flares per platoon will be carried by each Platoon in the

three assaulting Companies.

Particular care is to be taken at night not to light them in places which are

very exposed to hostile view. Colours are allotted and will be used as

follows:-

7th Wilts………………Yellow

In the event of relief the Incoming Battalion will take over the colour of the

outgoing Battalion.

Signal Calls.

The following signals will be used by the Battalions in the fighting line after

the capture of the enemy front line and thereafter until further orders :-

7th Wilts. OA.

12th Hants. OB.

10th Devons. OC.

If a Battalion comes temporarily into the line between two others it will assume

the call of the Battalion on its right, but duplicating the letter thus :- OAA.

In the Field L.J. Fairchild Captain.

22/4/17. Adjutant, 7th Wiltshire Regiment.

COPIES. 12.

Nos 1 and 2. 79th Inf. Bde.

" 3 O.C. 7th Wilts.

" 4. O.C. A Coy.

" 5. " B "

" 6. " C "

" 7. " D "

" 8 Signalling Officer.

" 9 and 10 War Diary.

" 11 File.

" 12.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7th Bn. THE WILTSHIRE REGIMENT

CASUALTY RETURN APRIL 24th/25th 1917

Officers.

Killed. C Coy 2nd Lieut Cowtan F.S.

A Coy 2nd Lieut Penruddocke T.

Wounded. A Coy Capt. Waylen H.

" Lieut Longland A.C.

C Coy Capt. Knott F.H.

" 2nd Lieut Dixon W.A.

" 2nd Lieut Cowie J.L.

D Coy Lieut Chandler C.H.

" Lieut Butler A.S.

Missing. A Coy Lieut Tayler J.A. Believed wounded

" 2nd Lieut Bartram H.F.

C Coy Lieut Hayward E.H.

D Coy Capt Osborn G.A.C. Believed killed.

" Lieut Plowman C.H.

OTHER RANKS.

KILLED B Coy 32408 Sgt. Currie G.N.

" 14416 L/Cpl Hunnibal P.E.

C Coy 15071 Pte Chambers F.

" 16013 " Spencer J.

" 17017 L/Cpl Smith F.G.

" 13873 Pte Smith Eustace

D Coy 12389 " Hyde W.H.

WOUNDED WOUNDED

A Coy.

33296 Sgt. Warwick C.W. 12329 Sgt. Dance A.C.

12490 " Wootton L. 12247 L/Sgt Pope H.C.

12357 Cpl Frankis R.W. 12456 Cpl Holloway A.

13563 " Tanner Z. 12350 " Mills R.

12854 L/Cpl Turner F. 12449 L/Cpl Anning F.S.

12313 L/Cpl Salvage F. 12311 L/Cpl Hawkins C.S.

12360 " Spackman S.R. 13550 Pte Bichard C.

22056 Pte Broomham F. 12320 " Brown T.R.

12411 " Cleverley F.W. 22896 " Davis A.C.

12286 " Dunsford L. 12359 " Elms G.

14051 " Earp L. 12427 " Elliott T.

12317 " Edge C. 22527 " Frampton A.

32416 " Foster H.G. 12261 " French A.

13743 " Gibson W. 12365 " Herbert E.

12220 " Harris A.D.J. 32739 " Happs W.

12274 " Hicks E.C. 12878 " Jones J.

25922 " Jefferies W. 32356 " Kelly W.

[Page] 2.

W O U N D E D.

'A' Coy. (continued)

20915 Pte Beeching H. 12345 Pte Evans E.W.

12316 " Gerrish L. 12447 " Hitchings E.

32356 " Lovell W. 12453 " Orchard E.

32437 " Prince F. (died of wounds) 12476 " Stratton F.W.

12299 " Pegler G. 12347 " Phillips P.J.

12312 " Smith S.J. 32392 L/Cpl Smith J.

12226 " Brown A.E. (died of wounds) 12438 " Marshall G.

12398 " Little F. 13747 Pte Mitchell G.

23654 " Lindsay A. 12328 " Neat T.

32365 " Mean A. 13540 " Ockwell C.F.

12224 " Rowe J. 13197 " Rawlings E.

12355 " Sparkes W.D. 22877 " Stickler

12448 " Stevens A.A. 10731 " Thomas T.

19524 " Truckle A.J. 12424 " Whitehorn A.

13215 " Winchcombe E. (12546) " Roberts H.J.

[Additional names added by hand]

3/3756 Pte Holloway F.

12458 " Phillips A.G.

21934 " Simpkins H.

12257 " Stratton A.J.

12855 " Lewis R.R.

'B' Coy.

14449 Pte Spriggs J. 17119 Pte Cohen I.

12437 " Edwards F. 17058 L/Cpl Binge F.C.

12368 " Gingell G.H. 14341 Cpl Compton R.W.

14505 " Brinnand T. 14460 Pte Pittaway A.C.

18714 " Gollidge E.H. 12340 " Clarke R.G.

17097 " Hogg C.L. 14297 " Allsworth H.

14493 " Stevens G.C. 17105 " King W.S.

14407 " Harris W. 32373 " Buck E.J.

32358 " Long O. 14417 " Harris G.H.

'C' Coy.

22127 Pte Ashe-Everest J. 33085 Pte Ballantyne J.H

10783 " Barrett P. 23786 " Bishop S.H.

14043 Sgt Briggs H. 22128 " Butt C.A.

12221 Pte Chunn W. 13855 " Clarence S.

14011 " Colcutt H. 13571 " Cook W.

32407 " Cutbush F.G. 15015 " Costello J.

14999 L/Cpl Davis W.T. 25613 " Dopson F.

13857 Pte Everton A. 15012 " Fletcher G.

25487 " Fulford A. 16040 Sgt Graham R.G.

25707 L/Cpl Freeman J. 15091 Pte Grove T.

16019 Pte Hall J. 25739 L/Cpl Harfield H.

32424 Pte Harris A.G. 16017 " Harris M.

14452 " Hemming A. 25551 " Herrick A.

18635 " Hill W.J. 14076 " Hunt S.J.

15096 " Kelly F. 18627 " Kew W.N.

18601 " Knee C. 14426 " Knibbs D.

14077 Sgt Lawrence W. 14012 L/Cpl Lock A.J.

26417 Pte Kundie H.J. 15093 Pte Morris W.A.

16004 " Nicholls W.L. 12478 " Paish F.M.

10027 L/Sgt Price J. 32428 " Read C.S.

14473 Pte Ridge T. 13808 " Rolfe J.

13566 L/Sgt Rowland E.T. 14364 Pte Rogers E.

14490 Pte Saul F.A. 15014 L/Cpl Stockton J.

14483 L/Cpl Stokes J. 15083 Pte Toney J.H.

14504 Pte Toy J.H. 16098 L/Cpl Vaughan J.H.

26338 Pte White E. 17709 Pte Clarke G.H.

25412 " Leary A. 26169 Pte Maguire A.W.

13822 L/Cpl Richardson W.J. 32431 Pte Shove

18631 Pte Cook T.M.

[Page] 3.

W O U N D E D (continued)

'D' Coy.

3/754 C.S.M. Farrer A.H. 10811 Sgt. Elliott F.

14363 Sgt. Elliott F. 13891 Sgt. Taylor J.H. (died of wounds)

12377 " Hibberd E. 14052 Cpl Burchell W.L.

14300 L/Sgt. Ariss T. 12435 " Doughty W.J.

16001 " Lovell E. 13875 L/Cpl Brackley G.P.

15003 Cpl Manton E.G. 14045 " Smith L.T. sic [14046]

15000 " Guest M.G. 14392 L/Cpl Gould L. (died of wounds)

13819 L/Cpl Lowe C. 14321 " Brown F.G.

13867 " Massey F. 14309 " Breakspear S.J.

32082 " Prince H. 13800 " Foley A.

32381 Pte Heal T. 32310 Pte Shield H.

12288 " Hughes F.A. 13894 " Bastable J.

12414 " Britten H.J. 13890 " Jakeman C.W.H.

16061 " Casemore F. 14063 " Evans F.R.

26062 " Cole C.J. 13892 " Eades P.

25927 " Harris C. 25928 " Baker F.H.

3/830 " Potter A.E. 25573 " Gumm E.

13842 " Robinson A. 12291 " Smith T.M.

32416 " Dickinson W.J. 26165 " Wareham S.C.

26171 " Payne R. 16061 " Uzzell A.J.

14292 " Ariss F.S. 14538 " Tandy F.S.

14307 " Breakspear W. 13861 " Markham C.

21295 " Orton J. 13854 " Hames W.

14520 " Watkins E. 14393 " Gough J.

22179 " Preter J. 15017 " Stokes J.C.

13820 " Padbury W.J. 14061 " Lewis J.P.

14047 " Spilsbury V.A. 19339 " Garbett T.J.

15029 " Pollard N. 13834 " Bent H.

22394 " Hayter A. 15034 " Edgar D.

32367 " Rudd E.A. 16046 " Foster P.

12272 " Tuck E.W. 13889 L/Cpl Butler H.

17014 Pte Corbett W. 16025 " Smith L.

16031 " Greenwood L. 22758 L/Cpl Howell J.

13898 " Price R.J. 12375 L/Sgt West A.H.

15056 " Sollers E. 16095 Pte Jones A.

14302 " Berry A.J.

32377 " Greenwood C. "REMAINED WITH UNIT"

M I S S I N G.

'A' Coy.

12333 Sgt. Pill P.H. 8420 Sgt. Beaven H.S.

3/842 " Higgs E. 8780 " Poole W.

12358 Cpl Winslow J.F. (Believed killed) 10714 L/Cpl Flambard F.W.

12262 L/Cpl Bull G.G. (believed killed)

12342 " Noon A. 32380 L/Cpl Hunt F.

19537 " Thompson R. 12853 " Lodge F.

32348 " Ainger W. 12307 Pte Bick C.A.

12477 " Bryant A.G. 12246 " Brown A.H.

32349 " Creedy H.E. 12339 " Clark W.G.

12474 " Comley J.G. 12352 " Cooper V.G.

[Page] 4

M I S S I N G

'A' Coy (continued ).

12278 Pte Diaper E.J. 12279 Pte Diaper C.

12249 " Doggett F.W. Believed Killed. 12425 Pte Elliott F.

22037 Pte Fergusson A. 12294 " Gee W.O.

21365 " Hobbs T. 12367 " Knight F.

12338 " Jennings A.W. 12454 " Orchard C.

10754 " Potter J. 12292 " Pegler E.

12399 " Pickett S.J. 12417 " Porter S.H.

13549 " Palmer E.F. 32097 " Richardson J.

12235 " Rose G.H. 19319 " Rowley P.

12390 " Sumbler A.G. 32435 " Wilson A.J.

16045 " Wilson H.E. 12298 " Weston A.P.

12408 " Weston G.

B Coy.

14348 Pte Cook T. 14530 Pte Watson E.E.

14405 " Hopkins F. 14398 " Pollard G.

14485 " Smith G.J. 32352 " Izzard H.R.

14357 " Dumpleton A.W. 12446 L/Cpl Ludlow R.

10598 " Bolwell G.

18630 " Hawkins A.

14432 " Line R.

C Coy.

16048 Pte Burton J.A. 33086 L/Cpl Featherstone R.

26415 " Froud H.G. 25651 Pte Hanson A.

26521 " Howse C. 20635 " Long C.T.

14437 " Long W. 33088 " Macfarlane J.

13817 " Noon L.J. 33081 " McKenna R.

23747 " Puttick H.C. 18612 " Smith J.

14020 " Walker P. 13803 Sgt. Walmesley A.G.

18618 " Watts G.R. 25519 L/Cpl White F.R.

13865 " White S. 15056 Pte Walton W.

14030 Pte Penn F.W.

D Coy.

25605 Pte Cooper A.F. 16030 Pte Warner A.W.

17021 " Tottle W.H. 16097 " Grounds T.

14519 " Wade C. 14093 " Gregory J.

25623 " Grace W.A. 14039 " Dunn H.R.

14512 " Turtle G.A. 13802 " Baldwin J.R.

14496 " Stone H. 14326 " Baker E.

14037 " Turton L. 17122 Sgt Beasant J.J.

24453 " Newland F. Believed Killed

14210 " Smith J. Believed killed.

13859 " Bur ell F.W.

14303 " Burnell H.

[Guest Bogbrush]

D company wounded lists Sergeant John Henry Taylor as having died from wounds. He was, in fact, shot in the stomach.

He was my Great Uncle (my grandmother's eldest brother). Their younger brother George William had been killed at Mons in November 1914 aged 17.