Talbot Hobbs

Sir Talbot Hobbs
Lieutenant General Talbot Hobbs in 1928
Born	24 August 1864 London, England
Died	21 April 1938(1938-04-21) (aged 73) At sea
Allegiance	Australian Army
Years of service	1893 – 1927
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	5th Division 1st Division 1st Division Artillery
Battles/wars	World War I Gallipoli Campaign Western Front
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Volunteer Decoration Mention in Despatches (8)

World War I

Lieutenant General Sir Joseph John Talbot Hobbs KCB, KCMG, VD (24 August 1864 – 21 April 1938) was an Australian architect and First World War general.

Hobbs was born in London, the son of Joseph and his wife Frances Ann Hobbs, née Wilson. Educated at St Mary's church school, Merton, Surrey, Hobbs joined the volunteer artillery in 1883. He also worked as draughtsman for a builder, John Hurst. In 1886, he emigrated with Hurst to Western Australia and established an architectural practice in Perth in 1887.

Hobbs designed many of the well known public buildings in Perth and Fremantle, including the Weld Club, the Savoy Hotel and the Perth Masonic Lodge. Hobbs was treasurer of the Western Australian Institute of Architects in 1896, and later became the institute's president from 1909 to 1911. From 1905, he was senior partner in the firm of architects, Hobbs, Smith & Forbes.

Hobbs also designed a number of private residences. The first of these is believed to be Samson House in Fremantle, an example of late 19th century colonial style, which was built in two stages between 1888 and 1890. The house is registered with the National Trust, and is in the Register of the National Estate.

In 1893, Hobbs joined the volunteer artillery as a gunner, and rose to the command of the battery in 1897. In 1906 he was a Lieutenant Colonel commanding a West Australian mixed brigade, and in 1913 a colonel commanding the 22nd infantry brigade. On four occasions he went to England and did intensive courses in artillery training with the British army. He was thus thoroughly equipped when war broke out, and on 8 August 1914 was selected by General Bridges to command the 1st Australian divisional artillery. After training in Egypt, he was at the landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 and was soon ashore searching for positions for his guns. Hobbs clashed with Bridges over the placement of the guns. Hobbs was in command of the artillery until 9 November 1915 when he was struck down with dysentery and invalided to Cairo despite his protests.