A village with a big story
Selected Biographies
Groome, Edward Charles – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 18.9.1887.[1] Parents: Charles Groome (Traction Engine Driver) and Mary Anne Elizabeth [née Balsham]. Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Alfred George Bennett [b1883 and George Ranson [b1888]; also, cousin of William John Groome [b1889]. Home: Living with George Basham (Grandfather) at New England, Poslingford, Suffolk (1891), Bull Lane, Long Melford (1901), Back Lane, Long Melford (1911), 5 Bull Lane, Long Melford (1939). Occupation: Threshing Machine Feeder (1901), Agricultural Labourer (1911), Machine Feeder for William Bigg of Burtons Farm, Long Melford [1916], Roadman for the County Council (1939). Married: Minnie Eliza Webb in 1909. Service Record: At the Melford Military Service Tribunal in July 1916 Edward’s employer William Bigg applied for his exemption from conscription, which was granted until the end of October. In early November 1916 his employer was again asked for Edward Groome’s exemption. A decision was held over pending a medical examination, which resulted in Groome being granted exemption for a further two months.[2] It is not known if he was ever conscripted as no definitive military record has been found. Died: Long Melford on 1.7.1972.[3]
Groome, William John – Born: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1889. Parents: Willie Groome of Little Waldingfield, Suffolk (Cowman) and Emma [née Warnes] of Long Melford. Family Connections: Cousin of Edward Charles Groome [b1887]. Home: Bassett Cottage, Bull Lane, Acton, Suffolk (1891), Glebe Lane, Rayleigh, Essex (1901), Swanns Bottom, Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex (1911). Occupation: Accountant’s Clerk (1911). Married: Alice Mary Denton in 1911. Service Record: Although no definitive military record has been found, William was possibly attested as Pte.6069 with 18th Battalion, London Regiment, later being transferred as Cpl.24507 to the Army Pay Corps. – Medal Roll & Index Card – Died: Chelmsford, Essex in 1961.
Selected Notes – [1] For date of birth see Baptism Register 1.1.1888, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford recorded as surname Groom [sic]. [2] For the Tribunal’s rulings see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 26.7.1916, 8.11.1916 and 29.11.1916. [3] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.
Related Biographies
Bennett, Alfred George – Born: Islington, London on 19.10.1883.[1] Parents: Edward Edwin Bennett (Builder’s Labourer) and Minnie Matilda [née King]. Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Edward Charles Groome [b1887]. Home: 24 Exmouth Street, St Pancras, London [1883], 77 Drummond Street, St Pancras (1891), 2 Great Eastern Railway Cottages, George Street, Harwich, Essex (1911), St Catherines Road, Long Melford [1930s]. Occupation: Seaman (1911). Married: Muriel Maud Groome of Long Melford in 1910. Service Record: Alfred enlisted in 1903 as Pte.B13919 with the Royal Marine Light Infantry, serving through the First World War.[2] Died: Long Melford in 1931.
Ranson, George – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 20.9.1888.[3] Parents: Edward Ranson (Coconut Mat Maker) and Harriett Maria [née Oakley] (Coconut Mat Stitcher). Family Connections: Brother to Alfred Edward Ranson [b1876], Oakley John Ranson [b1886], Bertie John Ranson [b1891] and Sidney Joseph Ranson [b1896]; also, cousin of Sidney Ranson [b1885], Harry George Ranson [b1885] and Bertie George Ranson [b1895], and brother-in-law of Edward Charles Groome [b1887]. Home: Back Meadow, Smaley Lane, Long Melford (1901), Military Barracks in Egypt (1911), 4 Smaley Meadow, Long Melford (1939). Occupation: Soldier (1911), Railway Labourer (1939). Married: Minnie Groome in 1919. Service Record: George enlisted in 1904 as Pte.6660 with 3rd [Militia] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. He re-enlisted as Pte.7139 with ‘C’ Company, 1st Battalion, Suffolks serving in Egypt and the Sudan up to August 1914. He was posted to France from 6.1.1915 as part of 84th Brigade, 28th Division and was captured on 15.2.1915, when his company was sent on a bombing raid to relieve The Buffs who were occupying ‘O’ Trench near the Belgian village of Sint-Elooi, four miles south of Ypres. The men of ‘C’ Company were ordered to hold the position until morning to allow the rest of their battalion time to dig new trenches 100 yards to the rear. Fierce fighting overnight left many Suffolks dead, the survivors being captured and sent to a Prisoner of War Camp at Münster in Germany. George was also to spend time in a camp at Chemnitz in Saxony before being repatriated following the Armistice in 1918. He was finally discharged in March of the following year.[4]
Related Notes – [1] Date of birth see TNA ADM171/167. [2] TNA ADM183: Order, Discharge and Letter Books, Registers and Returns. [3] Date of birth from Baptism Register 2.10.1888, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [4] See the Suffolk Regimental Gazette, January 1916, which gives the movements of the Battalion for the first year of the War. My thanks to Rod Gibson of Haverhill for bringing this publication to my notice. Also see 1st Suffolk’s War Diary [WO 95/2277/3] and Murphy, Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. R. The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927 [London: Hutchinson and Co, 1928], pp.52-55 for further related information on this period. See also his Chelsea Hospital British Army Service Record [WO 97] up to 1904 and George’s PoW Record International Committee of the Red Cross [file ref: PA20572], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].
Genealogical Table
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