Name
John Archibald Room
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/03/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
205958
Royal Horse Artillery
D Bty. 3rd Bde.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 7 to 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Watford memorials, Not on the Tring memorials
Pre War
Son of Alice WARD or KIRBY (nee ROOM).
John was born 15 December 1898 in Tring, Herts. He attended New Mill J.M.I. School, Tring, from 8 January 1902 to 28 July 1904, from 10 January to 3 August 1905, and from 9 January to 28 February 1906. He resided in Watford.
His mother originally married 1903 in the Lincoln district to Alfred Ernest WARD, and later lived with Percy Edwin KIRBY. Percy died 11 October 1936 aged 58; Alice WARD or KIRBY died 9 December 1940 aged 59; both in the Hackney, London, district.
On the 1901 Census, aged 2 he lived in Tring, with his mother and no siblings. On the 1911 Census, at school aged 12, John WARD lived in Fenny Stratford, Beds, with his mother, step-father and no siblings.
Officially recorded as living in Watford when he enlisted in Woolwich, Kent.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Woolwich, Kent; was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, John’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH online via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
