Maj Gen Sir Percy Hobart

Bodston · 04-04-2008, 05:57 PM

'Hobo', before Lee manages to work his way through all of the Generals

I thought I would start a thread in praise of one of my favorites. Being made a Major General in 1937 he outranked many of his superior officers in 21st Army Group. He was of course older and many know that in 1940 he was retired and put out to grass. He joined the local defence volunteers as a Lance Corporal. It wasn't until this week that I found out where. He was in the Home Guard in his home town of Chipping Campden, the place where I went to school. He was also Monty's brother-in-law, Monty married his sister. Apparently the two men did not always see eye to eye. Recalled to the flag in 1941 by Winston Churchill after a campaign in 'The Sunday Pictorial' newspaper.
Best known for his 'funnies' and his leadership of the 79th Armoured Division in Normandy and beyond, his vision regarding armoured engineering was second to none.
I don't think that I have ever read a bad word said about him.

Does anyone else have any opinions of the man?

I must also read his biography 'Armoured Crusader', anybody read it?

4th wilts · 04-04-2008, 06:32 PM

hobo was a wonderful man,a visionary.straight from prof horrocks.he is a nice bloke too.yours,lee.

sapper · 04-04-2008, 08:22 PM

The Funnies did stirling work, many of them RE or to be precise AVREs.

Korps Steiner · 04-04-2008, 09:54 PM

Can't fault Hobart he stepped up did the job and got us off those beaches with his funnies as quick as possible just a pity the Americans hadn't taken on board more of his inventive and unusual ideas !!

Paul

Gotthard Heinrici · 04-04-2008, 10:46 PM

A brilliant mind and someone who had the guts to stick to his guns. The Americans would not have had the problems they did if they had taken some of those "funnies" to Omaha

Donnie · 04-04-2008, 11:49 PM

well when do the Americans ever listen to the Brits Eh?

Donnie

Korps Steiner · 05-04-2008, 01:36 AM

Good point Donnie !!!

lancesergeant · 05-04-2008, 02:10 AM

They might have said he was stubborn and eccentric, the big glasses and the leather jerkin,but the man had vision and the tenacity to stick to his guns. He may have had his detractors amongst his peers. The so - called "funnies" from flails to fascines etc might have been mocked, but like has been said they saved countless lives. He had his finger on the pulse and he knew what solutions fitted the problems. Saying that only place I hear of his contribution is from the Royal Tank Regiment history at Bovingdon.

4th wilts · 05-04-2008, 11:29 AM

he also trained and/or commanded 3 of britains armoured divs.the mobile division-7th a/d,11th a/d and 79th a/d.great bloke.lee

von Poop · 05-04-2008, 12:52 PM

Hey Lancesergeant! Very good to see you back around, been wondering where you went.

On Hobart, top bloke. A narrow escape that such a significant figure could have spent his time serving out his war in the home guard.

04-04-2008, 05:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bodston Very Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: just around the corner Posts: 1,445	Maj Gen Sir Percy Hobart 'Hobo', before Lee manages to work his way through all of the Generals I thought I would start a thread in praise of one of my favorites. Being made a Major General in 1937 he outranked many of his superior officers in 21st Army Group. He was of course older and many know that in 1940 he was retired and put out to grass. He joined the local defence volunteers as a Lance Corporal. It wasn't until this week that I found out where. He was in the Home Guard in his home town of Chipping Campden, the place where I went to school. He was also Monty's brother-in-law, Monty married his sister. Apparently the two men did not always see eye to eye. Recalled to the flag in 1941 by Winston Churchill after a campaign in 'The Sunday Pictorial' newspaper. Best known for his 'funnies' and his leadership of the 79th Armoured Division in Normandy and beyond, his vision regarding armoured engineering was second to none. I don't think that I have ever read a bad word said about him. Does anyone else have any opinions of the man? I must also read his biography 'Armoured Crusader', anybody read it? __________________ My mother told me, I never should, play with the gypsies in the wood.

04-04-2008, 09:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Korps Steiner Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: England / Estonia Posts: 86	Can't fault Hobart he stepped up did the job and got us off those beaches with his funnies as quick as possible just a pity the Americans hadn't taken on board more of his inventive and unusual ideas !! Paul __________________ Nikto ne Zabyt . Nichto ne Zabyto. Let no one forget . Let nothing be forgotten. Frontline Battlefield Tours

04-04-2008, 10:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
Gotthard Heinrici Pog mo thon Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,928	A brilliant mind and someone who had the guts to stick to his guns. The Americans would not have had the problems they did if they had taken some of those "funnies" to Omaha __________________ *"The Eastern front is like a house of cards. If the front is broken through at one point all the rest will collapse."* - General Heinz Guderian

04-04-2008, 11:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
Donnie A Chosen Man Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: England Posts: 445	well when do the Americans ever listen to the Brits Eh? Donnie __________________ Swift & Bold My website www.freewebs.com/dswgreatwar Dedicated to all of my family who fought and fell

05-04-2008, 01:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
Korps Steiner Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: England / Estonia Posts: 86	Good point Donnie !!! __________________ Nikto ne Zabyt . Nichto ne Zabyto. Let no one forget . Let nothing be forgotten. Frontline Battlefield Tours

04-04-2008, 06:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
4th wilts Discharged Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: wessex Posts: 1,032	hobo was a wonderful man,a visionary.straight from prof horrocks.he is a nice bloke too.yours,lee.

04-04-2008, 08:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
sapper WW2 Veteran Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,512	The Funnies did stirling work, many of them RE or to be precise AVREs.

05-04-2008, 02:10 AM	#8 (permalink)
lancesergeant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 778	They might have said he was stubborn and eccentric, the big glasses and the leather jerkin,but the man had vision and the tenacity to stick to his guns. He may have had his detractors amongst his peers. The so - called "funnies" from flails to fascines etc might have been mocked, but like has been said they saved countless lives. He had his finger on the pulse and he knew what solutions fitted the problems. Saying that only place I hear of his contribution is from the Royal Tank Regiment history at Bovingdon.

05-04-2008, 11:29 AM	#9 (permalink)
4th wilts Discharged Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: wessex Posts: 1,032	he also trained and/or commanded 3 of britains armoured divs.the mobile division-7th a/d,11th a/d and 79th a/d.great bloke.lee

05-04-2008, 12:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
von Poop I Like Tanks Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Perfidious Albion. Posts: 8,471	Hey Lancesergeant! Very good to see you back around, been wondering where you went. On Hobart, top bloke. A narrow escape that such a significant figure could have spent his time serving out his war in the home guard. __________________ It's only the Internet.

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