Ernest HOBAN and his first wife, Ruth Kingham, married in 1913 and had seven sons; Albert, James, Richard, Harold, Joseph, Ernest and William, and one daughter, Ruth. They lived at this time in Dawlish Road, Bournebrook, directly opposite Blossom Avenue.

Sadly Ruth Hoban nee Kingham died in 1939, in Northfield, at the age of 44. Ernest eventually remarried to Minnie Smith and had two more children; Michael and Beryl Hoban.

Ernest was the musical one of the family and ran his own jazz band, 'The Melody Makers'. His niece, Irene Harvey nee Powell, recalls marching in front of the band, twirling a batton, as they toured the streets of the district. The majorette's outfits were green and gold, topped by green hats with gold tassles. This talent for music was passed down to Ernest's grandsons, Keith and Ken, sons of Albert Hoban.

During WW1, the young Ernest went missing in action, the family didn't know if he were dead or alive. Finally, after much searching, his father, Ed Hoban, found Ernest in the University Hospital in Birmingham. The picture above was taken at the time. Unfortunately the top half is too badly damaged but it is possible the man standing in the background is Ernest's father, Ed Hoban. Ernest, with an expression that leaves no doubt that he has seen more horror than he could ever have believed possible, is seated on the right. His 'Wound Stripe' quite obvious on his uniform. Ernest's friend seated on the left has two 'Wound Stripes' and no legs. This man was known as 'Limey', he also lived in Dawlish Road, Bournebrook.

Richard HOBAN married Alice Bolter in 1922 and they had two daughters, Edna and Rose. The couple ran a pub in Aston until the mid 1940s. Irene Harvey nee Powell recalls visiting her uncle and aunt at the pub as a girl and spending many magical Christmas' there. The pub would be decorated with two large Christmas trees and there would be huge open fires to warm the rooms. Sadly the pub was bombed out during the latter part of WW2 and Richard and Alice Hoban moved to live in nearby Weoley Castle.

Matilda HOBAN married Albert Powell, a gardener from Herefordshire, in 1921 in St. Wulstan's Church in Bournebrook, Birmingham, UK. The couple lived in the the old family home in Blossom Avenue, Bournebrook first occupied by Matilda's parents, Ed Hoban and Matilda Humphries.

Matilda had a hairlip and cleft palate which made her speech a little odd to people who did not know her well. She had a great capacity for fun and an absolutely wicked sense of humour, she is remembered with great affection by her many grandchildren.

Many thanks to Irene Harvey nee Powell, Reg, Horace, Ron & Albert Powell, & Keith Hoban for their help with compiling the above information