British Star 1914

[Noor]

Hi,

Just picked up one interesting 1914 Star. Is there more information available about the owner/unit/service? Biggest head case for me is the unit what I just don't understand.

Also what would be the value because I mainly don't collect Bristih medals and I like to let it go - just to be honest with you guys and let you know about that.

Kind Regards,

Noor

As far I know the 1914 stars had been awarded 378,00 times (a wordsworth colour guide MEDALS, published in Englalnd 1993 )

text on the reverse:

9269

PIE S.E.HOBBS.

R.BERKS.R.

[Great Dane]

My guess is that it is "PTE" (Private) instead of PIE and that R.BERKS.R is Royal Berkshire Rifles?

/Mike

[Noor]

Thank you Great Dane!

I wasn't sure about the first part.... private of course and regiment as well!!!! Thank you :jumping:

[JPL]

My guess is that it is "PTE" (Private) instead of PIE and that R.BERKS.R is Royal Berkshire Rifles?

/Mike

Hi Noor,

I did a quick search for his MIC in the online National Archives website and found the following:

Hobbs, Sidney E

Corps Regiment No Rank

Royal Berkshire Regiment 9269 Private

He also served in the Hampshire Regiment as follows:

Hampshire Regiment 23977 Private

Here is the link to the info:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=1

Jean-Paul

[leigh kitchen]

Yes, that looks like him,

Medal Index Card shows:

Sidney E Hobbs,Pte 9269 3rd R Berks Regt later Pte 23977 2nd Hants Regt.

Entered theatre of war on 5/11/14, entitled to 1914 Star, War Medal, Victory Meda,

Slver War Badge LIst C/670/1

A note on the back of the MIC - "Mr S.E.Hobbs makes app for decorations 15/4/20.

[leigh kitchen]

Looks like these are his "pension records" - Sidney Edmund Hobbs, joined the R. Berks Regt in 1913 at age 17, number originally is 9729 or similar, deleted & replaced by number 23977, service towards engagement starting on 174/1/13.

He was a casual labourer from Stepney.

Recruit training with the 3rd Berks, posted to 2nd Hants 13/9/14, posted to Depot 28/1/15, posted to 3rd Berks? again on 23/4/15, transferred 1st Garrison Bn Hants Regt 19/4/16, posted to 2nd Hants on.

He'd been mobilized on 5/8/14, & he was discharged no longer physically fit for War Service on 30/9/18, conduct "very good".

Served 5 years & 260 days.

Served in France 5/11/14 - 22/1/15 & 20/5/16 - 17/3/18a:

SWB was because he was gassed, he was awarded punishments 3 times, for havng a dirty rifle & being dirty personally 2/5/13, quittng his fatigue without permission 1/5/14 & whilst on Active Service quitting his post & duty 2/9/14 (although on "Active Service" he was still based in England at the time, Southampton area by the look of it).

Edited May 12, 2009 by leigh kitchen

[Noor]

Thank you guys! Excellent work and information. :beer:

[peter monahan]

Nice work, gentlemen!

Poor bugger! Joined the Army as a 'causal labourer' (read 'unemployed' or 'semi-employed'), had a fairly ordinary wartime career and got discharged 'unfit' as a result of being gassed. I wonder if he 'quit fatigues' because he couldn't breath well enough and got gigged by an unsympathetic NCO.

I also wonder how he made out as a civilian with no particular skills and a half a set of lungs! Perhaps he applied for the gongs in 1920 and wore the War Badge in an attempt to improve his odds of getting a job. I know that's what I'd have done! No great wonder that socialism made such strides in the UK after the war!

[leigh kitchen]

"Homes Fit For Heroes" was the slogan was'nt it?

[Graham Stewart]

Just a quicky here. If he began his recruit training in 1913 with the 3rd Bn, Royal Berkshire Regt, then he wasn't a regular soldier, he would have been a "Special Reservist". Regular soldiers enlisting at this period of time undertook recruit training at the Regimental Depot, as training for the "Reserve & Extra Reserve Battalions" of line regiments, which in the main where either the 3rd or 4th Bn's, was an annual event.