Wednesday 8 October 2014

Heroic Sportsmen of WW1 - Edgar Robert Mobbs, DSO


Keen Rugby Union fan J. Daniel Dawson has sent me this report about Edgar Robert Mobbs:

Born in Northampton on 29th June 1882. Edgar was an English Rugby Union Footballer who played for and Captained Northampton RFC and England. After being turned down as being too old to join the Army in WWI, Edgar raised his own "Sportsman's" Company of 250 Sportsmen ( Also known as Mobb's own) for the Northamptonshire Regiment. He rose to Command his Battalion with the Rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Edgar was killed in action in July 1917 at Zillebeke (Belguim) during the third Battle of Ypres, (now called Iepers) while attacking a Machine Gun post. His body has never been found, so his name is on the Menin Gate Memorial. (Ypres/Iepers) He was honoured with the Distinguished Service Order.

A Memorial to Mobbs and other Northampton players who lost their lives in wartime stands in Franklin Gardens, home of Northampton Saints Rugby Club.  With many thanks to The Saints for allowing the use of the photo of Edgar Mobbs.