In Memory of Leading Seaman John Joseph Bobbett. Service No: 183495, H.M.S. ‘Hampshire’, Royal Navy who died age 37 on 5th June 1916. Remembered with Honour at Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel No.12.
Certificate: BOBBETT, JOHN JOSEPH – courtesy of Commonwealth War Graves Commission
John Bobbett was born on 17th April 1878 in North Chideock, Dorset. John was the son of Joseph Bobbett (1833-1904) and Mary Bobbett (1843-1907). In the 1881 Census and the 1891 Census Mary Bobbett lived with her children in North Chideock whilst Joseph Bobbett lived in London with his occupation being listed as ‘butler’. By 1901 Census Mary and Joseph are together and listed as ‘Farmers’ in North Chideock whilst John Joseph Bobbett is listed as being in the Royal Navy on the ship ‘HMS ‘Terrible’, aged 22.
On 5th June 1916, age 37, John was serving on HMS Hampshire which struck a mine and sank off the Orkneys. The cause of his death was listed as ‘killed or died as a direct result of enemy action’. His body was not recovered for burial. His sister Mary Ann was notified of his death.
He is commemorated on Panel 12 of the Portsmouth Naval Memorial and also on the Chideock War Memorial.