yeovil at War
Albert George Jobbins
Died during training
Albert George William James Jobbins was born in Yeovil in 1896, the son of certificated elementary school teacher Albert Ebenezer Jobbins (1873-1934), originally from Malmesbury, Wiltshire, and Yeovil-born Emma Lena née Dover (1874-1949).
In the 1901 census Albert and Emma were living at 96 Goldcroft with their two children: 4-year old Albert and 2-year old Eleanor Huldah. By the time of the 1911 census the family had moved to Bath Street, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, where Albert Snr worked as assistant master for the County Council at Horsley School, which Albert Jnr attended as a pupil. Albert Snr would later become headmaster of Staverton Council School, near Cheltenham.
When war broke out in the summer of 1914, 18-year old Albert enlisted in 'B' Company, 8th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment (Service No 11204).
Sadly, while in training at the Wiltshire garrison town of Tidworth, Albert died of meningitis on 26 October 1914 in the Barracks Hospital. He was just 18 years old.
In reporting Albert's death the Stroud News wrote "On Monday October 26th, Private Jobbins, the only son of Mr and Mrs Jobbins of Staverton School, passed away in Tidworth Barracks Hospital. Albert Jobbins, who was well-known in Nailsworth, was among the first from Staverton to volunteer for Lord Kitchener's Army; his keenness as a soldier was testified by the captain of his regiment (8th Gloucesters), who said that he was shortly to be promoted as an NCO. The body was laid to rest in Tidworth Cemetery on Thursday in last week with full military honours. The mourners were Mr Jobbins and Mr Herrin, the service being conducted by one of the camp chaplains and the Rev RL Hodson (priest-in-charge of Staverton). Wreaths and flowers were sent by his parents and sister, Mr and Mrs Herrin, Miss Ellard and Mr and Mrs Cake, the school teachers of Staverton School, the scholars, the Staverton and Boddington troop of Boy Scouts, Mr and Mrs Stevens and Mrs Turner and daughters."
Albert was interred in Tidworth Military Cemetery, Wiltshire, Grave C117. His name was added to the War Memorial in the Borough in 2018.
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Albert Jobbins' Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission certificate in memory of Albert Jobbins.