Francis Edward Henry Graham Hobart

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Commander (retired) Francis Edward Henry Graham Hobart (5 March, 1883 – ) was a destroyer officer in the Royal Navy during the Great War. More than one of his evaluators considered him lacking in tact.

Life & Career

Hobart was born in the Northwest provinces of India, the son of R. J. Hobart, J.P..

Hobart was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 September, 1904.[1]

In March 1907 his name was noted for physical training duties, but in January, 1908 he was recommended by Captain de Robeck for command of a destroyer.

Hobart was appointed Lieutenant & Commander of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 1 in on 22 June, 1912 and placed in charge of reduced boats of the Eighth Destroyer Flotilla. Captain Henderson's evaluation for him from this time said that he was "rather easy going – not strict enough as disciplinarian."[2]

Hobart was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 September, 1912.[3]

Hobart was scolded for delay in landing cordite from T.B. 26 for testing and told to exercise greater care in future.

On 29 November, 1914, Hobart was admitted to Queensferry Hospital with appendicitis. On 10 December, he was sent to the hospital ship Sheelah and thence to Chatham Hospital, deemed unlikely to be fit for some time. He was declared fit on 2 February, 1915. After a temporary stint in command of T.B. 15, Hobart was appointed to take command of the destroyer Landrail.

Hobart commanded Landrail at the Battle of Jutland, one of four Harwich Force destroyers operating with different flotillas.[4]

On 15 November, 1916, Landrail encountered a u-boat and was, in the Admiralty's view, not immediately ready for action.

Hobart was superseded in command of Landrail on 12 May, 1917. He was briefly placed in command of Patriot in place of the ailing Commander Robert Gerald Hamond, but in June was appointed to wait for Tristram's completion, so he could take command.

In 1918, Hobart grounded Tristram and the Admiralty scolded Hobart for not exercising greater care.

Post-War

Hobart commanded Riviera until being appointed as District Officer Coast Guard, Killybegs on 23 June, 1919. In 1922 he moved to Belfast to assist C.O. (A), Belfast. In April, 1923 he was placed on unpaid time.[5]

Hobart was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Commander on 1 October, 1923 after some squabbling over the terms of his retirement. He was permitted to proceed to Australia.[6]

World War II

In October, 1939, after having initially been told that no vacancies were available to him, Hobart was appointed by the Royal Australian Navy to Cerberus V as N.C.S.O., Freemantle. In November, he was appointed to Stag, additional, as Commodore of Convoys. In April, 1941, he was re-appointed, serving as Commodore, Second Class R.N.R. while holding this appointment. On 6 June, 1942 he was appointed to Penguin, additional, for local convoy duties.[7]

Hobart reverted to the Retired list on 21 March 1947. In 1950 (possibly 1960), he was granted a War Service Rank of Captain.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Henry F. D. Jelf
Captain of H.M. T.B. 16
13 Oct, 1908[8][9] – 28 May, 1910[10]
Succeeded by
John L. Field
Preceded by
William S. Hargreaves
Captain of H.M.S. Thorn
28 May, 1910[11] – Aug, 1910[12]
Succeeded by
Clive Phillipps-Wolley
Preceded by
Clive C. H. Maitland-Addison
Captain of H.M.S. Ostrich
Aug, 1910[13] – 4 Mar, 1911[14]
Succeeded by
Herbert F. Littledale
Preceded by
Robert A. Wilson
Captain of H.M.S. Stour
4 Mar, 1911[15][16] – 22 Jun, 1912[17]
Succeeded by
Reginald T. Amedroz
Preceded by
Horace Walker
Captain of H.M. T.B. 1
22 Jun, 1912[18][19] – 20 Jan, 1914[20]
Succeeded by
Frederick T. de M. Morgan
Preceded by
John K. McLeod
Captain of H.M. T.B. 26
20 Jan, 1914[21][22] – Dec, 1914[23]
Succeeded by
Ian C. Cowan
Preceded by
Thomas K. Maxwell
Captain of H.M. T.B. 15
19 Feb, 1915[24] – Mar, 1915[25]
Succeeded by
Edward N. Mortimer
Preceded by
Bruce Lloyd-Owen
Captain of H.M.S. Landrail
9 Mar, 1915[26][27] – 12 May, 1917[28]
Succeeded by
Conyngham C. Denison
Preceded by
Robert G. Hamond
Captain of H.M.S. Patriot
25 May, 1917[29] – 11 Jun, 1917[30]
Succeeded by
Maxwell N. Williamson-Napier
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Tristram
11 Jun, 1917[31][32] – 9 Mar, 1918[33]
Succeeded by
Harry A. D. Keate
Preceded by
Arthur Henniker-Heaton
Captain of H.M.S. Ulster
9 Mar, 1918[34] – 30 Mar, 1918[35]
Succeeded by
Edward D. W. Lawford
Preceded by
Vivian L. Wiles
Captain of H.M.S. Riviera
30 Mar, 1918[36][37] – 23 Jun, 1919[38]
Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  2. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  3. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  4. Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 47.
  5. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  6. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  7. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  8. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  9. The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 400.
  10. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  11. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  12. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  13. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  14. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  15. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  16. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 378.
  17. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  18. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  19. The Navy List. (January, 1914). p. 400.
  20. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  21. "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), Monday, Jan 26, 1914; pg. 3; Issue 40430.
  22. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  23. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  24. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  25. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  26. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  27. The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 395tt.
  28. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  29. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  30. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  31. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  32. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 398n.
  33. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  34. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  35. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  36. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.
  37. The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 1004-1006.
  38. Hobart Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48/45. f. 448.