Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Maurice Francis Hoban was the eldest son of Thomas Mathew Hoban and Christina Monaghan Hoban. Maurice and his four siblings, grew up against the colourful backdrop of the Victorian Hotel industry. Their parents ran the Oddfellows’ Hotel in Williamstown for much of Maurice’s early childhood, and in the early 1920’s, took over the Centennial Hotel in Kensington.  

Maurice was just ten years old when his father died. His mother continued the business and ensured her boys were well educated.  Maurice and his younger brother, Thomas Desmond Hoban (/explore/people/797186), attended Xavier’s College in Kew and later Melbourne University. Maurice studied Pharmacy, passing his Intermediate Examinations in 1940.

On the 10th September 1940, Maurice married Myra Estelle Theodore at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne. She was the daughter of Edward Granville ‘Red Ted’ Theodore, a former Queensland Premier and Federal Treasurer. Consequently, Myra’s movements and her marriage were well reported in the newspapers of the day.

Maurice had enrolled in the RAAF Reserve prior to his marriage. His call up, always in the background. Life however continued and in June 1941, he and Myra celebrated the birth of their first child Marie Jeanette. Maurice was able to spend a month with his daughter before enlisting on the 19th July 1941.

Completing his basic training at the No 1 Initial Training School (1ITS) at Somers in Victoria, Maurice proceeded to Benalla where he learnt the basics of flying in DH82 Tiger Moth aircraft at the No 11 Elementary Flying Training School (11EFTS). The next phase of his training was at Point Cook’s, No 1 Service Flying Training School (1SFTS), followed by a course at the No 2 Air Observers School (2AOS) in Mount Gambier, South Australia. Returning to Victoria, Maurice undertook further training at the No 3 Bombing and Gunnery School (3BAGS) in West Sale and was awarded his Air Observers Badge on the 25th June 1942. 

A month later, Maurice was granted a commission to Pilot Officer. In August, he joined RAAF Mallala in South Australia for four months, before arriving at the Base Torpedo Unit (/explore/units/1478) in Nowra NSW on the 14th December 1942. Granted eight days leave over Christmas, Maurice re-joined his family, which now include four month old Peter Desmond.

On the evening of Tuesday the 13th April 1943, Maurice was assigned to the crew of Beaufort A9-27. This aircraft, piloted by Flying Officer Green, was to be the lead aircraft of Red Flight during the following days flying program. Their task was to perform a number of torpedo demonstration flights for the accredited war correspondents and photographers visiting Jervis Bay.  

As the program was drawing to a close, Red Flight was to finish with a low fly by off HMAS Burra-bra’s starboard before returning to base. Running over time, the ship had sailed past the original rendezvous point. As a result, the BTU Commanding Officer who was on board the ship, radioed the aircraft, instructing them to change their approach, and conclude with a Prince of Wales break up instead. A manoeuvre that hadn’t been practiced.

What transpired, was captured by Fox Films cameraman, Eric Bieve. The surviving 16 seconds of silent, black and white images show three Beaufort Bombers flying towards, then alongside the ship at 185 knots and just 50 feet above the water. As the flight commences the breakup, two of the planes clip each other and plummet into the bay, sinking in 100 feet of water. 

Divers recovered Maurice’s body from the aircraft wreckage on the afternoon of the accident. His wife Myra and brother-in-law, Patrick Kearney (Army V159756), were notified of the tragic events.

Flying Officer Maurice Francis Hoban was buried with Full Air Force Honours at the Nowra War Cemetery (/explore/cemeteries/3206) on Thursday the 15th April 1943, 10 days short of his 31st birthday.  He was laid to rest in grave B. A. 4. beside his fellow crew members, pilot Raymond Sydney Green (/explore/people/630215) and WOAG Albert John Bailey (/explore/people/618701).  The last member of their crew, WOAG Eric William Sweetnam (/explore/people/649028) was buried next to Maurice two days later. 

The crew of Beaufort A9-268, who had been flying in the number two position, were never recovered. A burial at sea service was conducted for, pilot David George Dey (/explore/people/511977), acting observer Jack Norman (/explore/people/510692) (WAOG), wireless operator Rex Lindsay Solomon (/explore/people/647917) and turret gunner Hugh Sydney George Richardson (/explore/people/644801), at 1030 Sunday the 18th April 1943 on Jervis Bay.

Two weeks after Maurice's funeral in Nowra, a Requiem Mass was held at the Xavier College Memorial Chapel in Melbourne. Myra, his mother and a large number of family and friends, including members of the RAAF and associates from the Old Xaverians’ fraternity, attended the Mass.  Located in the Great Hall on the Xavier Senior Campus is the school’s original Roll of Honour Board dedicated to the “Xaverians who gave their lives on active service”. Maurice Hoban is listed among their number.

Principal Sources:
National Archives of Australia: 
NAA: A9300, HOBAN M F and NAA: A705, 32/22/220.

Karen Standen 2016