Samuel's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Samuel Hobson was born in Macclesfield and baptised on 12 September 1890 at St Michael's Church, the son of Elizabeth and Frederick William Hobson, a baker of Hurdsfield. In 1891, eight-month-old Samuel was living at 33 King Street, Macclesfield, with his mother and siblings Edwin (10), Elizabeth Ann (7) and Emily (4); his father must have been elsewhere on census night.
By 1901 the family had moved to 9 King Street, and again Samuel's father was absent from the family home. In 1911 the family was at the same address and Samuel was working as a baker for his father. The family later moved to 2 Eastgate, Macclesfield.
WW1 SERVICE
Samuel enlisted in December 1916 and was sent to Kinmel Park for training, after which he was drafted to France the following year. It is likely that Private Hobson was promoted to the rank of Acting Lance-Corporal, since he was referred to as a Lance-Corporal but is officially recorded as a Private.
Private Hobson's death was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 25 October 1918:
LANCE-CORPL SAM HOBSON, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, killed in France by a machine-gun bullet, resided with his sister in Eastgate, Macclesfield. He enlisted in December, 1916, and after training at Kinmel Park was drafted to France, where he had served about 18 months. Twenty-eight years of age, prior to enlistment he was employed by his father as a baker. Deceased attended the Parish Church. A letter from his sergeant states: "Lance-Corporal Hobson was well-liked by all his fellow NCOs and was always cheerful."
COMMEMORATION
Private Samuel Hobson is buried in Grave Ref. VI. D. 18. of the Prospect Hill Cemetery in France. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Private Samuel Hobson, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War website.
In Macclesfield, Private Samuel Hobson is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall and St Michael's Church war memorials.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births
Cheshire Parish Baptism Registers (Find My Past)
Census (England & Wales): 1891, 1901, 1911
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Lives of the First World War website
Macclesfield Times: 25 October 1918, 23 September 1921 (photo supplement)
Research by Rosie Rowley, Macclesfield.