Orders, Decorations and Medals

Five: Stoker Petty Officer G. Hobden, Royal Navy

China 1900, no clasp (Sto., H.M.S. Endymion); 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals (281687 S.P.O., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (281687 Sto. P.O., H.M.S. Actaeon); together with Silver War Badge and R.N. trade badge, very fine or better (5) £100-140

Stoker Petty Officer George Hobden joined the Royal Navy in February 1896 at the age of 23. He served during the China War of 1900 aboard H.M.S. Endymion and was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in June 1912. During the Great War Hobden was serving aboard H.M.S. Lark which was involved in the first Naval action of the Great War on 5 August 1914, when she sunk the minelayer Konigin Luise. He was also present at the Battle of Heligoland Bight and was involved in the sinking of the Torpedo Boats A2 and A6 off Hinder Light on 1 May 1915. Fourteen days later he was present at the Battle of Dogger Bank when the Armoured Cruiser Blucher was sunk. The last action that Hobden had any involvement in was the Zeebrugge Raid of 22-23 April 1918, at which time he was serving aboard the Destroyer H.M.S. North Star, when she was sunk by shore batteries. During this action Hobden was wounded in the neck and shoulder, which resulted in his being invalided out of the service in December 1918.

The China War Medal 1900 to The R.N. & R.M., compiled by W.H. Fevyer and J.W. Wilson, states that Hobden received two duplicate medals.