Medals to Great War Casualties from the Collection of the late Ian Livesley

Three: Second Lieutenant Robert Edward Charles Groome, 65th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, an Old Harrovian who served through the retreat from Mons and the Battles of the Marne and Aisne, being mortally wounded on 3 March 1915 and dying the following day

1914 Star, with copy clasp (2. Lieut., R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut.); together with memorial plaque (Robert Edward Charles Groome), all contained in an attractive bronzed glazed frame with R.A. badge mounted to top; together with an original photograph of recipient as a boy soldier, extremely fine (4) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to Great War Casualties from the Collection of the late Ian Livesley.

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Second Lieutenant Robert Edward Charles Groome died of wounds on 4 March 1915 and is buried at Poperinghe Old Cemetery, Belgium.

The following is extracted from Harrow Memorials of The Great War, Volume I:

‘Lieutenant Groome received his Commission in the Royal Field Artillery in January 1914, and was attached to the 65th Battery. He left for the Front on August 17th 1914 and was through the Retreat from Mons, and the Battles of the Marne and the Aisne. On March 3rd 1915, he was mortally wounded under the following circumstances:-

A break was reported in the telephone communications with a forward observation station, which he had himself selected and connected some days earlier. He at once volunteered to repair the break, and started out, about 7 p.m., with one Bombardier. After repairing the wire, they were returning along the road from Ypres to Neuve Eglise, when a chance shell bursts on to the road between them, severely wounding both men in the legs. They were found by a passing wagon, pluckily cheering one another. Lieut. Groome insisted on the Bombardier having the first drink and the first attendance, though he was himself more severely wounded. He was conveyed to hospital at Poperinghe, but the surgeon pronounced that an operation was impossible. On the morning of March 4th he succumbed to his wounds, cheerful to the last; indeed his last regret was that in being moved from the ambulance he had allowed one groan to escape his lips.

The Colonel commanding the 8th Brigade of Artillery writes: “ He was a most promising officer, cheery and full of pluck, and his loss is a severe one to the Brigade.”

His Major writes: “ The whole Battery has had a great loss: he was so popular with the ranks. He had served throughout the War with the greatest credit and distinction, and it is only a few days ago that his name was noted for official recognition. Please accept from the officers, N.C.O.’s, gunners, drivers, and infact every single man of the Battery, our deepest sympathy.” ‘