Print of The Late Lieut-General Sir Talbot HOBBS

Sir Joseph John Talbot HOBBS was born in the London suburb of Chelsea on 24 August 1864. After graduating as an architect, he worked as a draftsman for builder John HURST, with whom he migrated to Perth in 1887. HOBBS demonstrated both ambition and dedication to the military in parallel to his architectural career. He commenced military service with the 1st Cinque Ports Garrison Volunteer Artillery at Pevensey, East Sussex, in 1883. Soon after arriving in Perth, HOBBS joined the Voluntary Field Artillery as a gunner in 1887 and rose through the ranks to command the battery by 1897. In 1903 he commanded the 1st West Australian Field Battery, was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel of the West Australian Mixed Brigade in 1908, and appointed colonel of the 22nd Field Brigade in 1913.
Four days after the outbreak of the war, HOBBS accepted command of the 1st Australian Divisional Artillery. He was responsible for the organisation and training of the 1st Divisional Artillery in Egypt, and subsequently commanded artillery operations for all Allied forces during the campaign on the Gallipoli Peninsula. When HOBBS proceeded to France with the 1st Australian Division in March 1916, he resumed command of the 1st Divisional Artillery and directed associated operations during the Battles of Pozieres and Mouquet Farm. When the 1st Australian Division moved from the Somme to Ypres, he also assumed command of the Belgium Field Artillery. In December 1916 he was appointed to command the 5th Australian Division and promoted to the rank major-general shortly after.
HOBBS commanded the 5th Division through a number of significant battles on the Western Front including Bullecourt, Ypres and Polygon Wood, whilst his considered preparations and planning were integral to the recapture of Villers-Bretonneux. The manner in which Hobbs led his division throughout this period endeared him to his troops. HOBBS succeeded Lieutenant-General Sir John MONASH in command of the Australian Corps in November 1918 and held this appointment until the demobilisation of AIF troops from France in May 1919. In response to his distinguished First World War service, HOBBS was honoured with a Knight Commander of the Bath (KCB) in December 1917, Knight of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG) in January 1919. He was also mentioned in despatches on eight occasions.
HOBBS also played a central role in the erection of memorials for the AIF. In 1918 he designed the headstone that was subsequently erected for fallen Australian soldiers. He was then appointed to select sites and oversee the erection of memorials to four Australian divisions and had a share in other important works in connection with Australian graves and cemeteries, the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, and the memorial tablet in Amiens Cathedral. This work became a devoted and deeply personal endeavour for HOBBS, which he continued for the remainder of his life after returning to Australia.
He was appointed honorary Aide-de-camp to the Governor-General of West Australia, a role he first accepted in 1908 but relinquished due to the war. In addition to his public service, he resumed practice at his architectural firm and commenced an executive career in the private sector. He also responded to a call from the military in 1920 to advise the government on the organisation and arrangement of the defence forces and remained in senior roles until his retirement from the army in 1927. In the same year he designed the State War Memorial in West Australia, which was dedicated in November 1929.
In April 1938 HOBBS was bound for France with his wife and daughter to attend the unveiling of the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. He died at sea on 21 April 1938. His body was returned to Perth for burial, and a funeral with full State and military honours took place on 14 May 1938.