People Australia

Ernest Willis Hobbs, n.d. photographer unknown

from Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

ERNEST WILLIS HOBBS, son of Mr. Frederick and Mrs. Marianne Emily Hobbs, was born at Pitt Street, Redfern, Sydney, on 26th May, 1877. He was educated at the Superior Public School, Redfern, and Sydney High School, and joined the service of the Bank on 29th July, 1895, at the Head Office. His subsequent transfers were as follows:—December, 1896, to Bathurst Street Branch; December, 1902, to William Street; July, 1906, to Yass; January, 1911, to Head Office; March, 1911, to Rockhampton; November, 1914, to Head Office (Chief Inspector’s Department).

He enlisted in May, 1916, and went away with reinforcements of the 19th Battalion. In the meantime he had risen from private to the rank of sergeant-major, and arriving in England in January, 1917, was soon afterwards appointed to the Finance Section of the Headquarters Staff as a private. Subsequently he was transferred to the Audit Section Headquarters, and rose to the rank of first-class warrant officer.

“For valuable services rendered in connection with the war” he was, in December, 1919, awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.