大象传媒

One figure towers above all others in Northampton World War One: Edgar Mobbs.

Prior to the war, he was one of the town鈥檚 most recognisable figures, as captain of Northampton Saints RFC from 1907 to 1913. He also played and captained for England.

Denied a commission due to his age in September 1914; he set about raising his own company and in 48-hours more than 400 men had volunteered 鈥� with Mobbs himself a private. He rose through the ranks to command the 7th Northamptonshire Regiment (known as 鈥淭he Mobbs Own鈥�).

Mobbs was wounded three times during the war, was twice mentioned in dispatches and received the DSO in January 1917. When he was killed on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele, leading a charge on a machine gun position, the whole county mourned.

In 1921 a statue was erected in Northampton and the Mobbs Memorial Match was played for the first time (it is still played annually).

is great-nephew, also named Edgar Mobbs, recalled his famous namesake from the steps of the Mobbs Memorial in Abington Square, Northampton.

Location: Abington Square, Northampton NN1
Presented by Edgar Mobbs; great-nephew of the renowned rugby player and war hero

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