Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : Captain

Army Number : 4207

Unit : 2nd Bn, 6th Bn, Depot

Biography :

John Nobbs enlisted in The Leicestershire Regiment on 28.9.1894 and joined 2nd Bn at Aldershot on 4.10.1894. He was promoted LCpl on 10.12.1895, Cpl on 24.2.1897, and Sgt on 9.2.1900. In May 1898 he was posted to the Depot and was then employed for a long period as Clerk in the Recruiting and Discharge Soldiers' Employment Association offices. He rejoined 2nd Bn at Guernsey in July 1903 and was Garrison Provost Sergeant there until the Bn returned to Colchester in 1904, shortly afterwards being promoted CSgt in B Company on 1.11.1904. A teetotaller, he was a very hard Temperance worker, and won many honours with the Royal Army Temperance Association (RATA) and the Independent Order of Good Templars (IOGT), being a Grand Lodge Degree member of the latter. On leaving 2nd Bn at Cork in 1898 he was presented with a gold medal by the IOGT. He was Guard to the Leicestershire District Lodge, and for two years was Secretary of the Leicester Good Templar Cycle Corps. He held a commission as Special Regimental Deputy Grand Chief Templar and was a considerable time Secretary of the 2nd Bn branch of the RATA. He qualified at the School of Musketry, Hythe, on 12.12.1905. Was serving in India in H Company of the 2nd Bn from 1906, and on 27.10.1906 at Belgaum Nobbs was elected the first Chief Templar of the newly-formed 'Green Tiger' Lodge M17, and was Secretary of the Bn's branch of the RATA, which in 1907 had a membership of 450. He was awarded the Prince of Wales' Medal in 1909 for his RATA work. He was installed as WM of the Victoria Lodge, Belgaum that year. He was also the Bn Editor for 'The Green Tiger' regimental magazine. In 1911 he passed his 1st class Certificate of Education. In 1913 he was awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal. He was one of the first Colour Sergeants to be commissioned on the outbreak of World War One, being commissioned 2Lt in the Regiment on 8.9.1914. He served in France and Belgium with the 6th Bn, including as Adjutant, was wounded, and was twice Mentioned in Despatches. He latterly served at The Depot. He received a 'Special Mention' from FM Sir Douglas Haig in 1918. The war had a curious effect upon him. It is said that, because of the rum ration issued in the early morning prior to an attack, his mind was changed during his time in France and in later life became a drinker, albeit a moderate one. On his retirement from the Army on 20.2.1920 (when he was grated the honorary rank of Captain), he took a pub, the Swan Inn, at Sherington, in Buckinghamshire. He was a prominent member of The Old Comrades Association in the 1930s and 1940s. Died on 14.2.1949, aged 74 years.

This page was last edited on 1.4.2019.

Date of Birth : 12.5.1875

Place of Birth : West Derby, Liverpool

Date of Death : 14.2.1949

Place of Death : Sherington, Newport Pagnell, Herts

Civil Occupation : Publican

Period of Service : 1890-1920

Conflicts : WW1

Places Served : India, Burma, France and Flanders