Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 21
A well-documented Great War C.B., Boer War C.M.G., and Great War French Legion of Honour group of three attributed to Major-General P. E. F. Hobbs, Royal Army Service Corps
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, fitted with later large ring for conversion to neck badge, but lacking smaller link ring, in Garrard, London, case of issue; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s breast badge, fitted with later large ring for conversion to neck badge, but lacking smaller link ring, in Garrard, London, case of issue, the case damaged and missing insert; France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Commander’s neck badge, gold and enamel, gold marks to base of wreath, in Louis Aucoc, Paris, case of issue, minor enamel damage to both central medallions on CMG, and to suspension wreath of last, otherwise good very fine (3)
£800-£1,200 C.B. London Gazette 18 February 1915:
‘For services rendered in connection with Operations in the Field.’ C.M.G. London Gazette 19 April 1901:
‘In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.’
French Legion of Honour, Commander London Gazette 8 November 1915: ‘For distinguished service in the Field.’
Percy Eyre Francis Hobbs was born in Jamaica on 18 February 1865, the son of Colonel T. F. Hobbs, 6th Foot, and was educated at Fettes. He joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry as a Lieutenant in 1883, and six years later transferred to the Army Service Corps in the rank of Captain. At the outbreak of the Boer War he was serving as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General at Woolwich, and in October 1899 he proceeded to South Africa in order to take up a similar appointment. He served during the early operations in Cape Colony and in the Orange Free State, and subsequently served as Assistant Adjutant-General in the Transvaal. For his services in South Africa he was Mentioned in Despatches and was created a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George.
Returning to the U.K. in 1901, Hobbs became Chief Instructor at the Army Service Corps School of Instruction at Aldershot, and was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in 1905. He subsequently served as Assistant Director of Supplies and Transport, London District, before performing similar roles in Ireland and with the Eastern Command.
Following the outbreak of the Great War, Hobbs was one of the first Army Service Corps officers to proceed to the Western Front, where he served under Sir Douglas Haig as Deputy Adjutant and Quartermaster General of 1st Army Corps, ands later as Haig’s Chief Administration Staff Officer. For his services during the Great War he was five times Mention in Despatches; was promoted Major- General; and was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath. He also received the French Legion of Honour and the Montenegrin Gold Medal for Merit.
Post-War, Hobbs served as Chairman of the Royal Army Service Corps Memorial Fund, and was later Colonel Commandant of the Royal Army Service Corps from 1925 to 1935. He died in Farnborough, Hampshire, on 26 October 1939.
Sold together with a large quantity of original documents, including the Bestowal Document for the Order of the Bath, with accompanying enclosures; Bestowal Document for the Order of St. Michael and St. George, with accompanying Central Chancery enclosures; Bestowal Document for the French Legion of Honour; Bestowal Document for the Montenegrin Gold Medal for Merit, together with French translation; the original hand-written recommendation for the recipient’s promotion to Major-General, signed by Sir Douglas Haig; two portrait photographs of the recipient; and various photographs, letters, Army Orders, Regimental and Corps Journals, Maps, and other ephemera.
Sold also with a small wooden box with gold mounts, with contents from the desk of Field Marshal the Earl Haig, specifically two small crucifixes, and a whippet ‘charm’, with the Field Marshal’s card, the top of which is written ‘In remembrance of’, and the reverse inscribed ‘Received and acknowledged 21st. Nov. 1928.’, this all a gift to Hobbs from Countess Haig following her husband’s death.
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