Corporal James Nobbs.
411364/A 1st Field Coy New Zealand Engineers.
Killed in Action 21st June 1917, aged 32.
(His brother George died of Pneumonia 15th May 1917 in Dublin)
James was born on the 23rd April 1885 in Burnley, the son of James Nobbs and Jane Athey..
At the time of the 1891 census his family had moved to The Brunshaw Tool Bar. James his father, now a widower 48 and a joiner, John 15 weaver, Jane 13 housekeeping, George 11, Lucy 6 and James 4, both born in Burnley.
They were still living in the same house in the 1901 census. James 59, John 25 greengrocer (own account), Jane 23, George 21 cotton twister, Lucy 16 weaver, James 14, greengrocer.
James enlisted on the 20th Oct 1914 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Sapper Nobbs, 6/1364 of the Canterbury Infantry Regt. He gave his sister Lucy Neale as his next of Kin, she lived in Christchurch. He was transferred to the New Zealand Engineers on the 1st Feb 1915. On the 12th of April he embarked for Gallipoli and then found himself in hospital on the 2nd June, reason not know. He was appointed a Cook on the 7th June 1915. He was again in hospital on the 26th June and taken to Murdos hospital. He went back to Gallipoli and was wounded there on the 9th Aug 1915 and on the 14th Oct he was sent home to convalesce. He re-joined his unit, now in France on the 23rd Jan 1916. His first promotion to Lance Corp. came on the 4th April 1916 and then on the 30th March 1917 he was promoted to Corporal.
From the Burnley Express dated 26th June 1915: THE DARDANELLES LANDING. BURNLEYITE WITH NEW ZEALANDERS.
A stirring story of the early Dardanelles fighting has been sent to Burnley by Sapper James Nobbs of the New Zealand Forces. Sapper Nobbs is a Burnley-man and brother of Mr J W Nobbs, Wheelwright of Brunshaw Road. He went out to New Zealand about 6 years ago and joined the Colonial Forces in August, and in the interim he has been stationed in Egypt. Writing to his brother he's says: "I will now try to describe one of the most impregnable positions taken by British arms. I am most thankful to be still alive, and more so in the best of good health, and spirits under the most trying conditions of this great war. If ever there was glory and honour worthy of men, the New Zealand and Australian troops have made a name in history. It was Sunday morning at dawn when we tried the great undertaking of forcing a landing under the cover of our noble Navy, and that night will live in my memory for the rest of my life. In 1 hours time we were also deaf and dazed that we could hardly talk to one another. Our mighty guns were firing all the time along the coastline, and the enemy shells were falling all around our transports and our small boats and rafts with which we made our great landing. We went as far as possible on a small torpedo boat and then in ships boats until we grounded, and at that time bullets and shrapnel were bursting over every inch of the beach. We had to jump overboard up to our waste in the surf and find cover under the great face of broken coastline. Our Infantry had by this time charge The Heights with the bayonet and the awful scene of dying and wounded men on the beach is too much to describe, but for men to attack and drive such desperate men as the Turks, also their German officers, from such an impregnable stronghold tells A Tale of the pluck and courage of these undaunted boys from south of the line. The Turks where at least 3 to 1 and there were machine guns everywhere. We engineers got our tools and started on the top of the first Ridge to trench still dark. Then we add funds to the firing line to put guns in the pits. It was raining most of the night and the rifle fire was deafening but we finished our work before dawn. Then the Turks tried terrifying shrapnel fire but we were well seasoned to that now, and what we have taken at the cost we have our boys will hold. For 4 days and nights the battle raged and we were living on our iron rations. The greatest difficulty was water for we had but one bottle till we could get ships water ashore, to say nothing of a wash, or much less take our clothes or boots off. Now just a few words as to the methods these Turks use in treating our Men. First of all they pay no heed to our noble Red Cross, and they were shot down just the same as the line. Only this morning at breakfast time one of the Turks snipers wounded a man badly, and 2 stretcher bearers went to get him out of his position, and both were shot. That is only one case out of a big number. Now as to the White Flag. Well we never know when to take notice of it, for as soon as you show out of cover, some of their other men open fire, but I suppose it is all in the joke of what they call Modern Warfare. I will know try and finish this letter after nearly a week since starting to write it. Parts of it have been written some very hot corners, for it is one long continual battle day and night, but we are now hardened to the worst forms of battle, and it is a very queer sight that makes us take any notice of it. Three solid weeks have now gone over our heads and we have got a good hold of some of some Turkey, and every man you see is as fit as a piper and bearing his task without a murmur. As I have said, I and all my section have been in some tight holes as I ..........been hit in the thigh by bursting shrapnel, and it was simply and marvel for a moment. I thought it had smashed my thigh. the slug was as big as a sparrow's egg. This is the fourth day and it is doing fine and I am more thankful to get off so lucky and hope to be in full action by the time you receive this letter.
......... The boys here from Old Burnley.
From the Burnley Express dated 3rd Nov 1917: TWO BROTHERS GONE. NEW ZEALAND ENGINEER KILLED.
Mr.J W Nobbs Wheelwright of Brunshaw Road Burnley has received information during the past 2 months of the loss of two brothers, James and George. The former was killed on June 21st in France while serving with the New Zealand forces, and the latter who was a driver in the ASC, died from pneumonia in May whilst on service in England.
The news of the death of James has travelled round by New Zealand before reaching Mr Nobbs this week, as it was first reported to a sister, Mrs Neale of Sprigdon, Christchurch N Z, and she has written two brother in Burnley enclosing the following letter from Major L M Shera, and dated June 22nd:
" I regret to inform you that your brother was killed in action on 21st June. At the time he met his death he was engaged upon engineering of considerable importance to the great offensive which is at present being successfully carried out. Your brother was a very capable non-commissioned officer, and has a great deal of Active Service to his credit, and his lost to this unit is keenly felt. He met his death by an enemy high explosive shell, which land is plus to him and was killed instantaneously. The body was carried in by his comrades and interned in the rear of the Battlefield. The officers and members of the first Field Company, New Zealand Engineers, extend to you their heartfelt sympathy in your loss of a Good Soldier and a brave brother."
Corporal James Nobbs, 4 / 1364a, of the New Zealand Engineers was 32 years of age and emigrated to New Zealand 11 years ago. He was an engineer on the New Zealand railways. Before going out he was exceedingly well known in the Brunshaw district. He joined the original army from the Colony and served in Gallipoli, where he was twice wounded. He was over here last Christmas for a week or two and returned to France where he had been since April 1916. He was single.
his late brother, driver George Nobbs , was also single and 37 years of age. He formerly resided at 223 Brunshaw Road and had been 18 months in the Army Service Corps. He was in Dublin at the time of the rebellion but except for this he had been on home service. He died from pneumonia. Formerly he was a Twister at Williams Bankfield Mill.
Formerly lived on 223 Brunshaw Road.
James was buried in Strand Military Cemetery, Belgium: Grave Ref; VI.B.15.
