FOOTBALLERS’ COMPANY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4709, 6 November 1917, Page 3

FOOTBALLERS’ COMPANY.

THE STORY OF “HOBBS’ OWN.” The romance of Lent.-Colonel Edgar Mobbs’ army career lias ended tragically. Tlie famous Midland Rugby footballer was killed leading liis men in an earlier Ypres battle. Mobbs was one of Kitchener’s “First Hundred' Thousand.” He applied for a commission, but it was refused because he was too old. But he was granted permission by the War Office to raise a company of' one of the battalions of the Northampton and composed almost entirely of bootballers it was known as “Mobbs’ Own.” He proved a magnificent soldier, and was soon given the commission he had applied for. Promotion followed with amazing rapidity and six months. 01 more ago he assumed command of the battalion in which lie. enlisted as a private. Mobbs used to tell some laughable stories of his early soldiering days when battalions were raised so rapidly that they could not be efficiently officered. , , “One day,” he said, we had a tremendous parade which I shall never forget as long as I live. None of us knew what we were doing. A new major had come down, and lie got us into some sort of a line. Then he walked along it while we trembled and much to my astonishment he called me out. 1 wondered l what I had done, but lie. said : ‘You are sergeantmajor. * I saicl: *OIi, whatever s that sir:-*’ He replied: ‘You must do your best!’ ” Another story concerned 1 an officer with red on his coat. “We were always frightened in those days,” said Mobbs, “when wrs.saw an officer wearing red, and you can imagine liow I felt when lie told me that he wanted a fatigue party- of forty men.” “Certainly.” 1 replied, but I haven’t the slightest idea i\ hat a fatigue party is.” He said I was the most extraordinary sergeant-major ne had ever seen, and I think ho was right.”