South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 206157 Charles William HOBAN - Tank D15, D Company, Heavy Branch, Machine Gun Corps


Killed in Action on Friday, September 15th 1916 aged 28

Military History
     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders British War & Victory Medals Thiepval Memorial
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
8 Sep 1915 in France (newspaper) ~ Warwick (Eleanor Cross) War Memorial
    Warwick St. Nicholas
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Enlisted  
Battle of Flers-Courcelette (Somme)  March 1916 in Warwick  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units Other War Memorials
Flers-Courcelette Pvt 32169 Machine Gun Corps   
     

Circumstances of Death

Charles is listed as being killed in action 15 Sep 1915 whilst a crew member in Tank D15. Charles was taking part in the first ever military action involving tanks. In July 1917 his unit, D Coy, Heavy Branch, Machine Gun Corps would become the Tank Corps. The Heavy Branch war diary entry for Tank 15 on the 15th September 1916 is transcribed below and shows that Charles was killed when leaving his tank after it had been disabled by a direct hit from a High Explosive shell.

Tank Orders Operational Results Casualties
D15

To leave starting line Z -35 proceed to Switch Trench & thence follow route W of Flers Road to 2nd & 3rd Objectives.

The Tank crossed the British front line on Sept 15th N of Delville Wood on the way to Switch Trench at S.6.d Central. The Tank was hit by H.E. in the front wounding Lt. Bagshaw and his driver & rendering the car unworkable owing to having destroyed steering and control gear. Tank was abandoned and gear salvaged.

Two of the crew were killed on 15th Sept one of those whose grave has since been found near Tank. These were killed while leaving Tank.

 1 Officer Wounded
2 O/R Killed
5 O/R Wounded
by direct hit H.E. and by shrapnel outside tank
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Oct Qtr 1887 in Warwick 5 Feb 1888 at Leamington All Saints, 
   
Parents Names Abode
Charles James and Kate Hoban West Rock, Warwick
   
Wife Marriage Details
Caroline Hoban nee Collins 10 Jun 1912 at Coventry, St. Thomas  
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1887 - Russell Street, Leamington Spa 1901 - Scholar
1891 - 9 Trinity Street, Leamington Spa 1911 - Shop assistant 
1901 - 22 King Street, Leamington Spa 1912 - Shop Assistant
1911 - 17 Rosefield Street, Leamington Spa  
1915 - 16 Cherry Street, Warwick  
   

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