JOBSON, Stanley


No.260080, Private, Stanley JOBSON
Aged 23


1st/5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
formerly 240225, Suffolk Regiment
formerly 1691, Suffolk Regiment
Died of his Wounds on Monday, 20th August 1917


Stanley JOBSON was born in Burton End, Haverhill on 8th July 1894(Risbridge Q3-1894), baptised in St Mary's Haverhill on 28th July 1894, son of Frederick and Harriett JOBSON (née SHIP).


1901 census...Aged 7, he was at 23 Burton End with his father Frederick JOBSDON [42] farm labourer; his mother Harriet [38]; brothers Albert [18], Frederick [15] Walter [13] (all farm labourers), Arthur [10] and William [1]. All were born in Haverhill.

1911 census...Aged 16, he was at 116 Burton End with his parents; brothers Frederick, Arthur and William. All six children survived, but the war was to tragically change that, claiming 3 of them.

He married Nellie FARRANT in 1915 (b.25-7-1893)(Risbridge Q4-1915), who re-married in 1920 to John MEDCALF and lived at 33 Burton End. Just to confuse us, there are 2 pension cards, one with his number as 260080 and Nellie, his widow as dependant and living at 136 Burton End, and another with his number as 260082 and his mother as dependant, at 156 Burton End

His brother Frederick died of illness in Mesopotamia in 1917, see here and brother Arthur was killed in France in 1916, see here





The reason for two badges is that the Gloucesters are unique in the British Army in that they wear a badge front and back on their headdress. This is to honour their exploits in Egypt in 19801 in the battle of Alexandria when they stood and fought back to back when encircled.

He enlisted in Haverhill. The South West Suffolk Echo reported on 1st September 1917:-
"The dark shadows of the war have fallen densely upon the family of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jobson of 156 Burton End, Haverhill, who now mourn the loss of three of their six sons serving, and of the survivors, tow have been wounded, and one is serving in India.On May 28th 1916, Pte. Arthur Jobson of the 8th Suffolk Regt. was killed in action, and on July17th this year, Pte.Fred Jobson of the Bedfordshire Regt., who was 31 years of age, died in Mesopotamia through the effects of heat.
At the end of last week there arrived the news that Lance Corpl.S.Jobson of the Gloucestershire Regt.,had died on August 2oth as a result of wounds received on the 17th. The deceased soldier, who was only 23 years of age, was called up with the local Territorials on the outbreak of war. He had only been in France about nine weeks, and been in the trenches five weeks. The sad intelligence was conveyed to the deceased's wife who resides at 136 Burton End, Haverhill, through the following letter from them Chaplain:-
"You will be anxiously waiting to hear news of your husband,Lance Corpl.,S.Jobson, Gloucestershire Regt. He was brought here on the 17th with a gunshot wound in head, left arm and left buttock. The head was the most serious. He was asleep when I visited him on the 18th, and on the 19th he was only semi conscious, and I sent a field card to you and had a silent prayer for him each day. He could send no message. he was worse on the morning of the 20th when I saw him and unconscious, and I regret to tell you (though you will be hearing officially) that he passed away peacefully at 2:30 pm on the 20th. I should have written earlier but have so many letters to write that I can hardly keep pace with it. Had he lived the doctors say he would have been entirely blind as the head wound had destroyed his sight, so I learnt later. He suffered no pain, he was not conscious enough to feel it. I laid his body to rest in Mendinghem Military Cemetery on the 21st. If you write to the G.R.M. (War Office), Winchester House,St James' Square, London, they will, if possible, give you a photograph of his grave later. Mention date and place of burial with his name. Any personal belongings that may have been recovered are sent from Base to next of kin, but may not reach you for two or three months.He had nobly fought and nobly died, but I am indeed sorry for you in your great loss. I am sending a card that may comfort you, reminding you of the reward of those faithful even to death. I have told you all we know here."


and in the issue of 29th September 1917:-
"Mrs. Jobson received the following letter from Frank Medcalf, a friend of the deceased:-
"It is with sincere regret that I received the news of the death of your husband. The sad news reached me to day, and I can assure you that I felt it very much. Although having seen much sorrow and anguish that this war has caused, nothing has touched me more than this. Having been pals with him for so long you can naturally understand how I feel, and my whole-hearted sympathy goes out to you in your great sorrow. I feel sure he must have died a noble death, knowing his nature and cheery manner as well I can come to no other conclusion. I have often thought about him and the pleasant hours we have spent in each others company since I have been out here, and can sincerely say that I never had a more genial or truer friend than he was. I must now bring my short note to a close, once again sympathising with you in your great loss."


On 17th the battalion were at St.Julien, near Ypres, having taken BORDER FARM the day before. The diary has:-
St Julien - 17-8-17 - "During the night the 8th Warwicks took up a line of posts about 100 yards in front of our posts, we remained on as support till the evening when we came out and proceeded to DAMBRE canal, stopping for a hot meal at REIGESBURG Camp. Our casualties : 1 officer killed, 6 wounded, 1 missing - O.R. 209 killed, missing or wounded."
These casualties are believed to be for the 2 days.



photo: Rodney Gibson



Stanley Jobson is buried in Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium, grave 4:F:22

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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