The second of four sons born to Arthur Edward Stanley Cobby and his wife Alice, née Nash, Harry Cobby was educated at University College, Armadale. A Militia officer for several years, Cobby gave up his job as a clerk in the Commonwealth Bank to join the Australian Flying Corps on 22 December 1916. He received six weeks of training at Point Cook, flying Graham-White and Bristol Boxkites before shipping out to England for further training on the Shorthorn at Waddington in Lincoln. At the Central Flying School at Upavon, Cobby received his pilot's graduation ticket whilst training on the Sopwith Camel. Without benefit of air gunnery training, he was bound for France on 18 December 1917 with 71 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps (soon after, 71 Squadron was renamed 4 Squadron). A cunning and aggressive pilot, Cobby scored 29 victories flying Camels. He was the highest scoring ace in the Australian Flying Corps and the only Australian credited with downing 5 balloons.
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Lt. (temp. Capt.) Arthur Henry Cobby (Australian Flying Corps).
Has proved himself a very gallant and successful fighter and patrol leader, setting a fine example to the squadron.
Within the last few months he has destroyed a number of enemy balloons and aeroplanes.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 August 1918 (30827/9199)
Distinguished Flying Cross (DSO) Bar
Lieut. (T./Capt.) Arthur Henry Cobby,
D.F.C. (Australian Flying Corps).
An officer whose success as a leader is due not only to high courage and brilliant flying, but also to the clear judgment and presence of mind he invariably displays. His example is of great value to other pilots in his squadron. During recent operations he shot down five machines in eleven days, accounting for two in one day.
(D.F.C. gazetted 3rd August, 1918.)
Supplement to the London Gazette, 21 September 1918 (30913/11248)
Distinguished Flying Cross (DSO) Second Bar
Lieut. (T./Capt.) Arthur Henry Cobby,
D.F.C. (Australian Flying Corps).
One evening this officer, in company with another machine, attacked five Pfaltz Scouts, destroying two; one fell in flames, and one broke up in the air. The officer who accompanied him brought down a third machine out of control. While engaged in this combat they were attacked from above by five triplanes. Displaying cool judgment and brilliant flying, Captain Cobby evaded this attack and returned to our lines in safety, both machines, being undamaged. A determined and most skilful leader, who has destroyed twenty-one hostile machines or balloons, accounting for three machines and two balloons in four days.
(The announcement of award of first Bar is also contained in this Gazette; D.F. Cross was gazetted on 3rd August, 1918.)
Supplement to the London Gazette, 21 September 1918 (30913/11248)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Lieut. (T./Capt.) Arthur Henry Cobby, D.F.C. (Australian F.C.).
On the 16th August this officer led an organised raid on an enemy aerodrome. At 200 feet altitude he obtained direct hits with his bombs and set on fire two hangars; he then opened fire on a machine which was standing out on the aerodrome. The machine caught fire. Afterwards he attacked with machine-gun fire parties of troops and mechanics, inflicting a number of casualties. On the following day he led another important raid on an aerodrome, setting fire to two hangars and effectively bombing gun detachments, anti-aircraft
batteries, etc.
The success of these two raids was largely due to the determined and skilful leadership of this officer.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 2 November 1918 (30989/12959)
Victories
Date
Time
Unit
Aircraft
Opponent
Location
1
21 Mar 1918
0905
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (B2535)
Albatros D.V (OOC)
S of Brebieres
2
21 Mar 1918
0905
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (B2535)
Albatros D.V (DES)
S of Brebieres
3
30 Mar 1918
1215
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (B2535)
Pfalz D.III (DES)
SE of Arras
4
10 Apr 1918
0940
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (B2535)
Albatros D.V (DES)
SE of Estaires
5
20 May 1918
0745
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (D1893)
Pfalz D.III (DES)
Neuve-Eglise
6
21 May 1918
1100
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (D1893)
Balloon (DES)
Merville
7
30 May 1918
1650
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (D1929)
Albatros D.V (DESF)
Estaires
8
31 May 1918
1657
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (D1929)
Balloon (DES)
Estaires
9
01 Jun 1918
0920
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (D1929)
Balloon (DES)
N of Estaires
10
01 Jun 1918
0935
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (D1929)
Albatros D.V (DES)
Estaires
11
17 Jun 1918
1950
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (D1929)
Pfalz D.III (DES)
E of Laventie
12
17 Jun 1918
1950
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (D1929)
Pfalz D.III (DES)
E of Laventie
13
19 Jun 1918
1845
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (D1929)
Pfalz D.III (DES)
Nieppe Forest
14
25 Jun 1918
1935
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (D1929)
Pfalz D.III (DES)
Estaires-Laventie
15
26 Jun 1918
1805
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (D1929)
Pfalz D.III (DES)
SE of Armentières
16
28 Jun 1918
1455
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (D1929)
LVG C (DES)
E of Outtersteene
17
28 Jun 1918
1505
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (D1929)
Pfalz D.III (DESF)
SE of Estaires
18
28 Jun 1918
1840
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (D1929)
Halberstadt C (DES)
Wytschaete
19
02 Jul 1918
1535
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (D1929)
Balloon (DES)
Bac St. Maur
20
02 Jul 1918
1600
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (D1929)
Fokker DR.I (DES)
NE of La Bassée
21
09 Jul 1918
1940
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (E1416)
AGO C (DES)
NE of Gravelin
22
14 Jul 1918
0718
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (E1416)
Balloon (DES)
Estaires-La Bassée
23
15 Jul 1918
1725
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (E1416)
Pfalz D.III (DESF)
Armentières
24
15 Jul 1918
1725
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (E1416)
Pfalz D.III (DES)
Armentières
25
06 Aug 1918
2050
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (E1416)
LVG C (DES)
SE of Bac St. Maur
26
07 Aug 1918
1235
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (E1416)
C (DES)
Lestrem
27
07 Aug 1918
1245
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (E1416)
Pfalz D.III (DES)
SE of Armentières
28
16 Aug 1918
1315
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel
Fokker D.VII (DES)1
Wavrin
29
04 Sep 1918
0715
4 (AFC)
Sopwith Camel (E1416)
Fokker D.VII (OOC)
Near Wattignies
1
Shared with Lt DC Carter, Lt R King, Lt JR Edols, 2Lt MH Eddie, Norman Trescowthick
