Robert Leonard Groome

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Admiral Robert Leonard Groome, C.V.O., Royal Navy, Retired (10 September, 1848 – 22 November, 1917) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Groome was promoted to the rank of Captain on 4 August, 1890.[1]

He was appointed in command of the battleship Repulse on 21 December, 1897.[2]

In June 1899, he was appointed in command of the second class protected cruiser Flora.

His Service Record notes that on 28 March 1901, Commodore Groome erred in sending Midshipman Cyril Callaghan to England for having written a note to an ordinary seaman to arrange a meeting between the two which was judged to be for "an immoral purpose." It was felt that Groome should have handled this on station as a breach of discipline.[3] Callaghan denied the charge of having an immoral intent. His service record contains the extraordinary statement that "Their Lordships do not place any credence in what Commodore Groome implied in his letter [? and in] his action in sending Mr. Callaghan to England, but deprived the latter of two months’ time for ‘a serious breach of discipline.’ Mr. Callaghan informed (25/3/01) their Lordships acquit him of any offence or intention of offence beyond this breach of discipline."[4]

Flag Rank

Groome was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 31 August, 1903.[5]

He was appointed in command of the Portsmouth Reserve Division on 3 January, 1905.[6]

On the occasion of the visit of the French fleet to Britain Groome was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.) on 11 August, 1905.[7] The gunnery officer of Albermarle, Hubert E. Dannreuther, wrote of him in February, 1906: "The Admiral is quite a peaceful person, smokes cigarettes on the quarter deck or bridge all day and plays bridge all the evening."[8]

He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 1 June, 1907, vice Holland.[9] In accordance with the provisions of the Order in Council of 8 December, 1903, he was placed on the Retired List, at his own request, dated 1 September.[10]

Groome was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 19 July, 1911.[11]

Groome died in St. George's Hospital, London, on 22 November, 1917, as the result of injuries sustained when hit by a car on the Mall a week previously. He was sixty-nine years old.[12]

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Sir Richard Poore, Bart.
Rear-Admiral in the Channel Fleet
1905 – 1907
Succeeded by
Robert S. Lowry

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Henry W. Hill
Captain of H.M.S. Cockchafer
4 Jul, 1883[13][14]
Succeeded by
Vernon A. Tisdall
Preceded by
Oswald P. Tudor
Captain of H.M.S. Tribune
11 Jul, 1893[15]c. 20 Aug, 1893[Inference]
Succeeded by
George N. A. Pollard
Preceded by
Walter H. B. Graham
Captain of H.M.S. Æolus
16 Jan, 1894[16][17] – 24 Apr, 1897[18]
Succeeded by
Henry M. T. Tudor
Preceded by
Wilmot H. Fawkes
Captain of H.M.S. Terrible
15 Jun, 1897[19][20] – 9 Aug, 1897[21]
Succeeded by
Charles G. Robinson
Preceded by
Ernest N. Rolfe
Captain of H.M.S. Repulse
21 Dec, 1897[22][23] – 20 Jun, 1899[24]
Succeeded by
Randolph F. O. Foote
Preceded by
Charles J. Norcock
Captain of H.M.S. Flora
20 Jun, 1899[25]
Succeeded by
Frederick S. Pelham
Preceded by
New Command
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Portsmouth Reserve Division
3 Jan, 1905[26] – 16 Nov, 1906[27]
Succeeded by
Charles H. Cross
Preceded by
Sir George T. H. Boyes
Director of Transports
11 Nov, 1907[28] – 1 Dec, 1911[29]
Succeeded by
Herbert W. Savory

Footnotes

  1. The London Gazette: no. 26080. p. 4536. 19 August, 1890.
  2. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Monday, 20 December, 1897. Issue 35391, col C, p. 10.
  3. Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 546.
  4. Callaghan Service Record. The National Archives. 196/46/130. Image ref. 130.
  5. The London Gazette: no. 27594. p. 5542. 4 September, 1903.
  6. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 24 December, 1904. Issue 37586, col D, p. 4.
  7. The London Gazette: no. 27826. p. 5532. 11 August, 1905.
  8. Dannreuther to Tristan Dannreuther. Letter of 24 February, 1906. Dannreuther Papers. National Maritime Museum. DAN/551/10.
  9. The London Gazette: no. 28027. p. 3832. 4 June, 1907.
  10. The London Gazette: no. 28056. p. 6019. 3 September, 1907.
  11. The London Gazette: no. 28515. p. 5432. 21 July, 1911.
  12. "News in Brief" (News in Brief). The Times. Friday, 23 November, 1917. Issue 41643, col D, p. 8.
  13. Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 544.
  14. The Navy List. (July, 1884). p. 202.
  15. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Monday, Jul 10, 1893; pg. 10; Issue 33999.
  16. Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 544.
  17. The Navy List. (April, 1897). p. 196.
  18. Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 544.
  19. "The Diamond Jubilee" The Times (London, England), Wednesday, Jun 16, 1897; pg. 8; Issue 35231.
  20. Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 544.
  21. Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 544.
  22. The Navy List. (October, 1898). p. 288.
  23. "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Monday, 20 December, 1897. Issue 35391, col C, p. 10.
  24. Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 544.
  25. The Navy List. (January, 1901). p. 256.
  26. "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 24 December, 1904. Issue 37586, col D, p. 4.
  27. Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 546.
  28. Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 546.
  29. Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 546.