Driver George Nobbs.
T4/122803 Army Service Corps.
Died of pneumonia in Dublin, 15 May 1917, aged 37.
George was born in 1879 the son of James Nobbs and Jane Athey. In the 1881 census the family were living in Towneley Lodge, Burnley. James 38 born in Great Massington, Norfolk, Jane 33 born in Harbottle, Northumberland, John 5, Jane Elizabeth 3 and George 1, all born in Burnley.
By the time of the 1891 census the family had moved to The Brunshaw Tool Bar. James 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.
George enlisted/mobilised in the Royal Field Artillery on the 31st August 1914, he had seen previous service with the 2nd Battalion RFA prior to the war. He gave his brother John as his next of kin, presumably his father had then died. He was discharged on the 2nd Oct 1914 as being medically unfit to be a soldier. He obviously re-enlisted again in the ASC.
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.
Lived at 223 Brunshaw Road.
George was buried at Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin, Ireland: Grave Ref RC 515.
His Brother James Nobbs killed in action 21st June 1917.