A Collection of 1914 Stars to the Royal Naval Division

Four: Stoker 1st Class J. Hobson, Collingwood Battalion, Royal Naval Division, who was interned in Holland after the fall of Antwerp, October 1914

1914 Star (SS. 111648. J. Hobson, Sto. 1Cl. Collingwood Bttn. R.N.D.); British War and Victory Medals (S.S. 111648 J. Hobson. Sto. 1 R.N.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (SS. 111648 (PO. B. 8400) J. Hobson. Sto. 1. R.F.R.) very fine (4) £200-£240

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of 1914 Stars to the Royal Naval Division.

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Joseph Hobson was born in Stanley Common, near Derby in March 1892. He served with A Company, 1st North Midland Field Ambulance prior to attesting for the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class in January 1912. Hobson advanced to Stoker 1st Class, and transferred to the Collingwood Battalion, Royal Naval Division in September 1914.

Hobson embarked with the Battalion to defend Antwerp where, in early October, having belatedly received the order to withdraw, he was one of approximately 1,600 men of the Benbow, Collingwood and Hawke Battalions of the 1st Brigade who were forced to take refuge in neutral Holland in order to prevent unnecessary casualties or capture by the enemy. Hobson was interned under International Law on 9 October 1914 and housed in barracks in Groningen where, other than periods of leave from Holland from March - April 1917 and from 11 November - 11 December 1918, he was so detained for the duration of the war. He was eventually repatriated, transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve in February 1919, and was then demobilised the following month.

Sold with copied research.