On 18 August1917 during the Battle of Hill 70 north-west of Lens, France, during a strong enemy counter-attack the Lewis gun in a forward position was buried by a shell and the crew, with the exception of one man, killed. Sergeant Hobson, although not a gunner, grasping the great importance of the post, rushed from his trench, dug out the gun and got it into action. The gun then jammed and so Sergeant Hobson rushed forward at the advancing enemy with bayonet and clubbed rifle, holding them back until he himself was killed by a rifle shot.
