Pte 235313 Herbert Mobbs

• Age: 23
• From: Norwich
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Monday 13th August 1917
• Commemorated at: Boulogne East Cem
  Panel Ref: VIII.I.5

Herbert Mobbs was born in 1894 at Norwich and the son of Henry Mobbs and his wife Ann (nee Hardy). His birth was registered at St Faiths Church, Norwich.

On the 1901 census he is aged 7, living at 69 Pearces Field, Sprowston, Norwich with father Henry, 34, a boot leather worker, mother Ann, 30, a laundress, sister Edith 9 and brother Henry 8.

The 1911 Census shows the family have moved and are living at 15 Pearce Field, Norwich. His father, Henry, is shown as aged 43, born 1868  in Norwich and whose occupation is shown as "rough stuff cutter for a shoe manufacturer", whilst his mother Ann is aged 41, born 1870 and does house work. They have been married for nineteen years and have had eight children of whom two have sadly died. Those listed in the household are; Edith aged 19, born 1892 is a boot socker for a shoe manufacturer, Henry aged 18, born 1893 and Herbert aged 17, born 1894 are Hawkers, Katie aged 9, born 1902, May aged 6, born 1905 and Lily aged 2, born 1909.

Herbert enlisted in Norwich and originally served as Private 4822 in the Yorkshire Regiment.

He was subsequently transferred to the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 235313. It seems most likely that he was sent to the 20th King’s after arriving with a reinforcement draft at the relevant infantry base depot. Surviving records indicate  that on 09th June 1917 he was in a draft from the 2/5th Yorkshire Regiment that embarked for France from Folkestone. Originally destined as reinforcements for that Regiment they were sent to Etaples for further training in trench warfare. As TF soldiers on the 24th June they were posted to the 5th Battalion KLR on the 24th June 1917 and renumbered to that regiment in the 2353** series before being posted to the 20th Battalion under Army Order 204/16.  The Medal Roll suggests the run was from 235310 - 235340.

They joined the 20th Battalion KLR in the field on either of the two following days. The war diary notes a draft of 44 on the 25th June and 34 the following day, the 26th, the latter would seem a better fit as far as numbers. 

Herbert was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 235313 when he died of wounds on the 13th August, 1917 aged 23 during the Third Battle of Ypres.

He now rests at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France.

Boulogne, was one of the three base ports most extensively used by the Commonwealth armies on the Western Front throughout the First World War. It was closed and cleared on the 27 August 1914 when the Allies were forced to fall back ahead of the German advance, but was opened again in October and from that month to the end of the war, Boulogne and Wimereux formed one of the chief hospital areas.

Until June 1918, the dead from the hospitals at Boulogne itself were buried in the Cimetiere de L'Est, one of the town cemeteries, the Commonwealth graves forming a long, narrow strip along the right hand edge of the cemetery. In the spring of 1918, it was found that space was running short in the Eastern Cemetery in spite of repeated extensions to the south, and the site of the new cemetery at Terlincthun was chosen.

During the Second World War, hospitals were again posted to Boulogne for a short time in May 1940. The town was taken by the Germans at the end of that month and remained in their hands until recaptured by the Canadians on 22 September 1944.

Boulogne Eastern Cemetery contains 5,577 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 224 from the Second World War.

The Commonwealth plots were designed by Charles Holden.

Herbert was included on the Weekly Casualty List on 18th September 1917 but his home town was incorrect. It was recorded as Horwich which is Wigan, Lancs, whereas his home town was of course Norwich.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to widow Ellen P.

Herbert is also commemorated on Norwich City Hall.

He was husband of Ellen Priscilla (nee Burrage) born 08^th February 1892. They were married in 1916 and had a daughter Ellen Priscilla born 24^th January 1917. His wife Ellen Priscilla was born in Norfolk and was educated at St Augustine’s Girls School. She was awarded a pension of 18/9 commencing 13^th March 1918.

Grateful thanks are extended to Mandie Adams and Julie Bishop who have allowed us permission to use the photograph of Herbert now on the site. Julie is the Great Grand-daughter of Herbert. The photo was taken whilst Herbert was with the Yorkshire Regiment and he is wearing their insignia.It was probably taken in Britain during training. 

Grateful thanks are also extended to the two members of the Great War Forum, Frogsmile and Ken48 who provided additional information contained in this biography 

We currently have no further information on Herbert Mobbs, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.