No.5932988, Private, Owen Charles HOBBS
Aged 23
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Owen Charles Hobbs was born on 4th November 1919 in Soham (Newmarket Q4-1919 3B:859), baptised in Soham on 5th December 1919, son of David and Caroline HOBBS (née EASY) of the Butts, Soham.
In the 1939 register the family were at The Butts, Soham, father David [9-4-1879] a disabled ex Service man; his mother Caroline [24-5-1883]; brother Archie [3-1-1917] butcher's assistant and sister Eileen S [25-9-1921] later MARTIN baker's shop assistant. No closed records. |
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The 2nd Battalion, Cambridgeshire regiment were on the mainland during the retreat down the peninsular in 1942. They had arrived in Singapore on the "Mount
Vernon" on January 13th and expected some time to unpack and settle in. Instead, on 16th January they were pushed into battle at Batu Pahat to cover the retreat.
In the confusion reigning at the time they were first ordered to leave the town, then to return, despite the Japanese already being in the favourable positions
established by the Cambridgeshires. Eventually surrounded they had to try as best they could to get back to Singapore in small groups. From Michael Moore's book "Battalion at War - Singapore 1942" we learn that:- The 2nd Cambridgeshires were completely surrounded in the Braddell Road vicinity. Their HQ staff of only fifteen men were fighting desperately against a full Japanese company. The reserve company tried to give assistance but lost all its officers and senior N.C.O.s. Acting C.O. Major A.B.Grant Stephen was killed leading a grenade attack. The Japanese having capture the HQ's only Bren gun were relying on rifle fire and were over run but a few survivors threw back the enemy with a bayonet charge. This counter attack allowed them to withdraw into the safety of "A" Company of the 2nd Cambridgeshires, but during the break out Captain Ennion and four other ranks were killed. It is recorded that Owen was in HQ Company and thus one of the survivors, only to be captured on the eventual surrender on 15th February 1942. Owen was originally buried in Changi Military cemetery before being moved on 27th April 1946 to Kranji |
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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