Born 29th June 1882 in Northampton, Edgar Robert Mobbs was educated in Bedford Modern School when he started playing rugby for the under tens. After gaining an injury at the age of 16, Mobbs was unable to play rugby for five years but he did quench his thrist for sport by playing cricket and hockey.
Mobbs' mother, Elizabeth died in 1903 and in this same year, Edgar kick started his rugby career once more by starting to play again. Mobbs quickly came to the attention of the Northampton Saints and he signed for them in 1905. In 1907, Mobbs became captain and he successfully held this post for six years - during which he scored 177 tries for the Saints.
In 1909, Mobbs was selected to play for England against Australia and consequently scored a try, the first time Australia had conceded a try to England however, England lost the game by six points.
Edgar gained seven international caps for England throughout his career, with his final international game against France in 1910. Edgar continued to play rugby until 1913, when at the age of 31, he decided to hang up his boots.
Due to the outbreak of World War 1 in 1914, Mobbs attempted to enlist to serve but he was refused as he was over the mandated age limit at 33 years old.
Never one to let a challenge get in his way, Mobbs joined up as a private soldier and commissioned his own unit of 264 men, known as 'D' Company, 7th Battalion, Northampton Regiment. This group of brave men included many rugby players.
Arriving in France in 1915 to take part in The Battle of Loos, Mobbs was promoted to Major in March 1916 and was later promoted once again to Lieutenant Colonel of the 7th Northants. Wounded by shrapnel in August, Mobbs was awarded a DSO for his work as a Battalion Commander.
On the 29th July, 1917 near Zillebeke, Mobbs decided to lead his Battalion from the front after hearing about loss of officers from the walking wounded. Mobbs moved to Shrewsbury Forest where he was killed on the 31st July at Lower Star Post aged just 37 years old. Edgar Mobbs was trying to bomb a machine gun that had trapped some of his Battalion.
Mobbs' body was never recovered and as such, he is listed on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium.
Of the 400 or so volunteers that served in 'Mobbs' Army' only 85 survived the War.
10th February 1921 saw the first ever Edgar Mobbs Memorial Match played at Northampton Saints home ground, Franklin Gardens.
Also in 1921, a bust of Mobbs was commissioned and placed at the north end of the market square in Northampton, serving as a constant reminder of the brave war hero the town had produced. In 1930, the monument was relocated closer to the war memorial in Abington Square.
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