Name
David Groom
23 Aug 1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/10/1914
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
8332
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GUARDS CEMETERY, WINDY CORNER, CUINCHY
IV. E. 33.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Whitwell Village Memorial, All Saints Church Memorial, St Paul’s Walden, Not on the Kimpton memorials
Pre War
David was born on 23 Aug 1887 in Whitwell, Herts to Abraham Groom , an agricultural labourer, and Lydia, a straw plaiter (nee Wells). On the 1881 Census Abraham and Lydia were living in Whitwell with their children George (born 1879) and Elizabeth (born 1880).
On the 1891 still living in Whitwell the family consisted of parents, Elizabeth Maud, Charles James (born 1882), Harriet Mary Ann (born 1885), William (born 1886), David) and Jane (born 1891).
By the 1901 Census the family consisted of parents, Charles (general labourer), William (a stock boy on farm), David (general labourer), Jane, and Ernest (born 1894) and were living in Whitwell.
On the 1911 Census David was recorded as a soldier serving with the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment in Bermuda.
David married Florence Emily Gatward on 3 Aug 1914 in St Pauls Walden.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for David, but a Biggleswade Chronicle report (11 Dec 1914) stated that he was recalled from Reserve after being married only 2 days.
David went to France on 21 Aug 1914 to join 1st Battalion of the Bedfordshires on the march to augment the British Expeditionary Force: taking part in the Battle of Mons (23 Aug 1914) and in the retreat toward Paris the Battles of Le Cateau (26 Aug 1914), the Marne (6 Sep 1914) and Aisne (13-14 Sep 1914). The German advance had been stemmed and the 1st Battalion, acting as advance guard for the 5th Division, marched to Bethune were they dug in at the Canal bank at Essars. On the 12 Oct 1914 occupied the village of Givenchy with little opposition but had to retire on 14 Oct under German attack losing 140 other Ranks (battle of La Bassee). Givenchy was retaken on 16 Oct 1914 but in the period 23 – 25 Oct 1914 while in trenches in Givenchy – Festubert area the Battalion was subject to heavy shelling and numerous attacks. It was during this period the David was killed in action on 25 Oct 1914.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 and arrears of £2 13s 4d was paid to his widow Florence, she also received a pension of 10s/week and on her marriage to W Hills, on 2 Sep 1917, a marriage gratuity of £10 12s 11d. Brother William served with 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment and Labour Corps, Died on 28 Nov 1918.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Adrian Pitts
