I am Reginald Hobbs and I was born in Lewknor, Oxfordshire in 1890 and baptised on 10th July 1892 in Lewknor. My parents were Arthur & Emma Hobbs. In 1891 we were living at Field Farm Cottage, Primrose Terrace, Lewknor and my father was an agricultural labourer. I was the baby of the family at that time. My siblings were John aged 9yrs, George aged 8yrs, Percy aged 6yrs, Amy aged 4yrs , Mary aged 3yrs and then me.
By 1901 the family was living at West Street, Lewknor and my father was a carter on a farm. By then I had two little brothers, Frank and Walter.
Ten years later we were still living in Lewknor but now at 11, Weston Road. I was now employed as a gardener. So I wasn't exactly a local lad of High Wycombe but my mother had moved to The Rose, Denmark Street, High Wycombe by 1918.
I was living at 11, Cooper Road, Willesdon when I attested on 5th February 1916. I gave my occupation as signalman/gardener. Working on the railways as well as doing a bit of gardening. I was Private G/21498. The prefix “G” on my service number indicates “General Service” and was commonly used for the Home Counties.
I was sent to the Amy Reserve the following day and then assigned to the 16th Battalion (Sussex Yeomanry) early in 1917. I served in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force from 18th July 1917 until 8th May 1918. So I would have seen action in the Third Battle of Gaza in November 1917, the capture of Beersheba & Sheria Positions and the capture of Jerusalem. The Battalion then moved to France in May 1918.
The Bucks Free Press reported on 18th January 1918 that I had been wounded. It was actually quite serious as I had been disabled by a gun shot wound to my back. As a consequence I was discharged on 8th August 1918 as “no longer physically fit for War Service”. I was entitled to wear a Silver War Badge to show that I was honourably discharged, the issue number was 437,668, and I was awarded a War Pension. My character was said to be “honest, sober and trustworthy”.
I actually died in Liverpool on the 5th October 1918 and my body was brought back to Wycombe where my mother was now living. My burial took place in High Wycombe Cemetery on 10th October 1918. I was 28 years old.
Researched by Ruth Bowler, Flackwell Local Area History Group
