Source: File: Edgar Roberts Mobbs.
See an original image at: <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edgar_Mobbs.jpg>
[Accessed 13 August 2017]
From the Boys Own World to a
world war,
Figures of standing in arts
and sport,
Edged from civilian life
into khaki.
Already a legend on the
sports field was
Edgar Mobbs, rugby player
and cricketer.
Born Northampton, Edgar Roberts
Mobbs
Lived Buckinghamshire,
Dartmouth
House Olney, his formative
home.
At 8 years 1882 Edgar played
in rugby
Team of under 10's, to follow
into house team.
A knee injury aged 16 meant
a break from
Rugby for 5 years; instead
to play cricket
And hockey - the tallest of
4 brothers
And 2 sisters, Edgar was
faired haired and
Blue eyed at 6 foot -1903 he
returned to rugby.
A career of success followed, to raise his
Status to sporting star - as
captain
Of Northampton Rugby Club
for
6 years Mobbs scored 177
tries - 1909
He played for England
against Australians.
With his stature, physique,
strength
And pace, Edgar was made a
force
On the field - with
Barbarians,
Northampton and East
Midlands
Teams, also to include
Toulouse, France.
Edgar Mobbs Aged 32 in 1913,
decided
To retire from sport, to
follow in father's
Steps within motor industry
- when
Mobbs considered emigration
to
Canada in 1914, European war
broke out.
The sports man volunteered -
set to gain
A commission but was refused,
Reason being over the age
limit -
Yet undeterred Edgar used
his own
Influence for others to form
a special corps.
Joining as a private alongside
'Mobbs
Army,’ this Sportsman's
Battalion
Became part of the 7th
Northants
D company - to include other
rugby
Players with Captains' of
Bedford and Devon.
With his big personality
promotion would
Follow. Arrival in France
led Mobbs
Into Battle of Loos - rapid
rise led
Him to become Major Mobbs -
April
1916 he took command of 7th
Northants.
After promotion to Lt Colonel,
Mobbs
Alongside his company,
fought
In Battle of the Somme - during
Attack on Guillemont village,
Lt Colonel Mobbs took a shrapnel hit.
Following mentions in
Despatches
Twice, Lt Colonel Mobbs was
Awarded the DSO. December
1916, the following year, took
The Northants to another sector.
April 1917 and the Battle of
Arras saw
D company gain many
casualties.
7 June, whilst fighting in
Ypres
Salient, Lt Colonel Mobbs
took
A further wound in action at
Messines.
Under 20 days later Lt Colonel
Mobbs
Was back with his battalion -
over
18 months Private Mobbs reached
Lit-Colonel - coveted as great
Hero of sport with boyish
personality.
Soldiering had given Mobbs renewal
-
He declared, 'heaps better than
Rugger' - adding it has more
'Variety' - discipline and
grind
Of training appealed as a
challenge.
Edgar Mobbs took to
soldiering
With ease, as those around
Him witnessed how he felt all
Loss of those in his company
-
To say that he would be back
again.
Despite wounds, his ability
to recover
Did not keep Mobbs from
front
For too long. On 29 July
duty
Posted Mobbs near Zillebeke,
At the Canada Street tunnels
HQ.
Involved in launch of the
third battle
Of Ypres, Lt. Colonel Mobbs
Was at hand to the front
where
He witnessed many of the walking
Wounded return, stating loss
of officers.
To follow duty to lead his
men Mobbs
Moved to Shrewsbury Forest -
31 July the attack began
with
Lt Colonel Mobbs forwarding
The company, ignoring his
own status.
As Battalion commander Mobbs
Should not have been there -
In the thick of it at Lower Star
Post, he discovered a section
Of the battalion cornered by
enemy.
Requisitioning hand grenades
Mobbs
Gained a volunteer runner -
the plan
Revived the old game tricks back,
In a two pronged rugby flanking
Movement, was how to take
out guns.
Despite another reminder Mobbs
Headed off - the runner was
Quick - he could feel that
old
Surge, back on the field the
ball
Under arm; a try was just
forty yards.
Thirty-five yards behind him
a dull
Yell; 'for gods sake get
down sir!'
Almost 30 yards Mobbs saw
The Flash of sweeping
bullets -
Ready to let the Hun take a
catch.
A teammate suddenly saw Mobbs
Drop, believing he had thrown
A grenade he fell alongside
Lt Colonel to see his wound
-
A bullet had gone through
his neck.
They paused on the lip of a
shell hole.
Mobbs gasped to halt attempt
To dress the hit - he
scrawled
The gun position, pushed the map
Into the runner's hand with
firm orders.
Shakily the man read Mobbs message.
'Am seriously wounded' -
despite
Protests to leave him, Mobbs
gave
Orders; return see to his wound
Only after the need of
reinforcements.
Lying in mud Mobbs could not
fight
A fitful sleep - with ten
minutes
His men found Lt Colonel Mobbs
Had died alone - action demanded
That they could not convey
his body.
The Sports man's battalion
pressed
On with duty - their
leaders body
Would never be recovered,
lost
In the battle - they just
fought even
Stronger, to avenge a good
man's death.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1917. Private To Lieut-Colonel - Famous
Footballer Killed. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 06
August 1917. P.6. Col.2. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214752/Daily-Telegraph-August-6-1917.html>
[Accessed: 13 August 2017].
Source: File: England Rugby: Remembering
Edgar Roberts Mobbs. Available at: <http://www.englandrugby.com/news/features/remembering-edgar-roberts-mobbs/> [Accessed 13 August 2017]
Source: Olney and District Historical Society: Edgar R Mobbs DSO (1882-1917) - Legendary Soldier Sportsman. Available at: <http://www.mkheritage.org.uk/odhs/articles/edgar-roberts-mobbs-dso-1882-1917/> [Accessed 13 August 2017]
Mann, J., 2016. 100
years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 13 August
2017).
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