West Yorkshire Regiment
Derek Johnstone has provided the following:
William Hobson was the son of James and Susannah Hobson and was born in 1899 at Bedlington, Northumberland. His father, a coal miner, was born in County Durham and his mother at Choppington, Northumberland.
In 1901, when William was two, his family was living at Doctor Terrace, Bedlington and include the following siblings: Robert 15, Mary Ann 11, Elizabeth 9, Caroline 7 and Susannah 4.
By 1911 the family were still living at 31, Doctor Terrace, Bedlington with additional siblings Isabella 12 and James 7.
William enlisted at Newcastle upon Tyne while still living with his parents at the same address. At the time he enlisted he was single and working in the coal mines as a colliery labourer.
After enlisting, he spent 10 days in hospital at Canterbury, Kent in January 1918 and went out to France in March of the same year.
The Service Records for William are available and show he enlisted 17th May 1917 and his personal processions handed back to the family on his death include a purse, wallet, letter, photos and cards.
William Hobson is remembered in Bedlington on B15.02, B15.06, B15.20, and B15.26 page 47
