Hobbs was then promoted brigadier general and made a Companion of the Order of the Bath. In March 1916 he went with the 1st Australian Division to France, and was in command of the Australian artillery when Pozières was captured. In December 1916 he assumed command of the 5th Australian Division and was made a major general in January. This division was in the thick of the fighting in the spring of 1917, and in September distinguished itself at Polygon Wood. The staff worked well together, and achieved a great victory. Hobbs was created both a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath and Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George on 1 January 1918. At the end of April his division fought at the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, which probably contributed to the abandonment of the German operations towards Amiens.