Name
Walter Henry Groom
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/06/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
36117
Royal Defence Corps
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NEWPORT (ST. WOOLOS) CEMETERY
9. C. 33.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Watford memorials
Pre War
Son of Joseph and the late Emma/Emily (nee MILLARD) GROOM; husband of the late Ann Ludlam (nee HUTCHINGS) GROOM).
His parents married 9 May 1852 at All Saints, Houghton Regis, Beds. Emily died 1913 in the Luton, Beds, district aged 82; Joseph possibly died 1916 in the Daventry, Northants, district aged 82.
Walter was born 25 April 1865 in Dunstable, Beds, and baptised 5 June 1865 at All Saints, Houghton Regis. He married 31 August 1891 at St Jude’s, Bethnal Green, London. He resided in Watford. Ann died 6 May 1906 in Northampton aged 32.
On the 1871 Census, a scholar aged 5 he lived in Dunstable, with his mother and four siblings. On the 1881 Census, an errand boy aged 15, he was a lodger in Penge, Kent. On the 1891 Census, a Sergeant in the 1st Northamptonshire Regiment aged 25, he was stationed in Aldershot, Hants. On the 1901 Census, he is proving elusive. On the 1911 Census, a Drill Instructor aged 44, he was a boarder in Weybridge, Surrey.
Recorded as born in Dunstable, Bedfordshire and was living in Watford when he enlisted in Finsbury.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Finsbury, Middx; appears to have no medals, and died at Cardiff Military Hospital.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Walter’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
