Description
Queen’s South Africa Medal, bar Cape Colony, 3026 Corporal Thomas Hoban, 3rd Volunteer Militia Battalion West Riding Regiment, from an Irish Family in Yorkshire.
Officially impressed: “3026 Corl T. Hoban, W. Riding Regt” Confirmed on the medal roll, with Militia service records.
Thomas Hoban, was born to Irish parents who had moved to England to live in Leeds.
Born circa 1859 in St Patricks, Leeds, Yorkshire.
This was not his first time in the Military, when he joined the West Riding Regiment Militia on 22nd June 1893 he was already aged 34, and had stated he had previous service with the “Scottish Rifles, on completion of service.”
So he probably had 12 years of service under his belt already.
After 4 years he renewed for another term of service on 16th July 1897.
He was amongst those mobilised for active service in South Africa during the Boer War, even though he was already 40 years old, he did his service.
Upon his return home, he was discharged having finished his 2nd 4 year term of engagement on 31st June 1901.
He received his War Gratuity paid to him on 4th October 1901.
After his discharge it did not take long to sing up once again, he re-enlisted with the 3rd Yorks Regiment of Militia aged 44 on 28th May 1904.
He again wrote down his prior service: “2nd Scots Rifles and 3rd West Riding, Time Expired”.
He was again discharged time expired on 27th May 1908.It is unsurprising that with WW1, on 7th October 1914, he signed up with the West Riding Regiment National Reserve for 1 year of service with the Territorial Force.He stated he was 47 years old, when he was in fact about 54.
He served at home until 20th February 1917 when he was discharged as unfit.The latter part of his service was with No 154 Protection Company of the Royal Defence Corps, with whom he had joined on 28th April 1916.
His final discharge was due to being found physically unfit for war service, and he is correctly noted as 57 years old, however a pencil note reads “49” which would have been his age on his records from when he signed up in 1915.
