Edgar Mobbs was born in Northampton in 1882 and educated at Bedford Modern. There was no sign of his rugby prowess in his early days, he could not even make the schools First XV instead his early sporting years were concentrated on hockey.

It was not until his family moved to Olney in North Buckinghamshire just on the Northants border that Edgar first took the oval ball game seriously.

He first played for Olney in 1903, then the Weston Turks, where there is a picture taken with the whole side wearing fezzes! (and Sarries thought they were unique!!) He then moved to the bright lights of town and joined Northampton Heathens.

In 1905 he was invited to join the Saints making his debut that September against Bedford. After a short spell at flyhalf he moved to the wing and two years later was appointed captain of the club.

After his first eventful season he was chosen to captain the Midlands in their match against the visiting Australians. The Mobbs lead Midlanders were the only side to beat the Wallabies on tour and Edgar's prowess had come to the notice of the English selectors.

He made his debut for his country against the same Australian touring side at Blackheath, Twickenham was still Billy Williams cabbage patch then, and scored Englands only try in a 9-3 defeat.

The next season he was chosen by his country to captain the national side in Paris. It was however to be his last game for England as then, just as now, politics played its part in the English rugby regime.Unfortunately it was sometimes more about who you knew and if you went to the right school rather than playing skill being the main criteria.

Edgar however returned to the Gardens and played with the Saints until his retirement in 1913 but the storm clouds were already gathering over Europe.

Initially denied an officers commission because he was considered too old at 32 Edgar set about setting up his own battalion. Being a local sporting hero many men from various sporting clubs around Northamptonshire answered Edgars call.
He must have been a persuavive man, over 400 men opted to take the 'Kings Shilling' at Mobbs request.

Of these 264 were fit enough for active service and Mobbs Sportsman's Battalion was born. They were attached to 7th Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment. Within a year Edgar, despite being turned down originally as an officer, was made the battalion commander.

He was wounded three times and during convalescence played his last game of rugby in Northampton, an England v Scotland exhibition game to raise money for the troops at, of all places, the County Ground then still the home of the Cobblers and the County Cricket Club.

In 1917 he was promoted to Colonel just before the Third Battle of Ypres, otherwise known as Passchendaele. It was a battle that was to claim over 400,000 casualties. Colonel Edgar Mobbs was one of them.

Attacking a machine gun post that was holding up his infantry he got within thirty yards before he was mown down in a hail of German bullets. Despite his injuries he managed to write down the location of the post before he died an action that was later commnted saved many lives of his men.

It was his final act, his body was never found and he still lies where he fell.

He was posthumously awarded the DSO and his name can be found inscribed with many tens of thousands of others at the Menin Gate at Ypres.


On the nearest home game to Armistice day at the Gardens as always there is the traditional minutes silence and Geoff Allen reads the time honoured tribute.

When he reads these words just pause and spare a thought for those hundreds of thousands of Edgars that never made it home.


When you go home, think of us and say,
For your tomorrow, we gave our today.


They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun,
and in the morning

We will remember them