Naming ceremony honours volunteer killed in WW2

St Peter Port RNLI's new lifeboat has been named after Harold Hobbs

Relatives of a lifeboat crewman who was killed by the Nazis said it was an "honour" to have a boat named after him.

St Peter Port RNLI hosted a naming ceremony for its new Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat, which has been named after Harold Hobbs.

Mr Hobbs was shot by a German aircraft in June 1940, just before the start of the occupation of the Channel Islands in World War Two, while serving on a Guernsey lifeboat named the Alfred and Clara Heath.

His son Tony was among those who attended the ceremony and he said it felt very good to have the boat named after his father.

The new inshore B class lifeboat was funded by donations from Guernsey residents.

The RNLI said Mr Hobbs was part of a mission to retrieve the Jersey lifeboat Howard D as the authorities did not want it to fall into enemy hands.

When the crew approached St Aubin's Bay, the boat was fired at by German aircraft and Mr Hobbs received a direct shot which killed him.

Harold Hobbs was killed in June 1940 while serving on a Guernsey lifeboat

Speaking about his father, Tony said could still remember saying goodbye on the day he went out on the shout that led to his death.

The 87 year old said the naming ceremony had left him feeling "choked up".

"It's a great honour for the family and I think it's been done very well," he said.

Tony Hobbs (second right) said he was 'choked up' during the naming ceremony

Jason Hobbs, Harold's great-nephew, is the current volunteer lifeboat operations manager at St Peter Port RNLI.

He said the boat had already been used in six rescues and has proved to be a "massive asset" for Guernsey.

Jason, whose grandfather and great-grandfather were also active on the lifeboat in 1940, added it was an emotional day for him and the rest of the Hobbs family.

"It is really important to the family," he said.

"I lost my father a month ago but pre him passing, I did bring it to his attention and that put a smile on his face."