Robert Leonard Groome
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
- The National Archives. ADM 196/86.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/38.
- The National Archives. ADM 196/17.
| 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
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26080. p. 4536. 19 August, 1890.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Monday, 20 December, 1897. Issue 35391, col C, p. 10.
- ↑ Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 546.
- ↑ Callaghan Service Record. The National Archives. 196/46/130. Image ref. 130.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27594. p. 5542. 4 September, 1903.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 24 December, 1904. Issue 37586, col D, p. 4.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27826. p. 5532. 11 August, 1905.
- ↑ Dannreuther to Tristan Dannreuther. Letter of 24 February, 1906. Dannreuther Papers. National Maritime Museum. DAN/551/10.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28027. p. 3832. 4 June, 1907.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28056. p. 6019. 3 September, 1907.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28515. p. 5432. 21 July, 1911.
- ↑ "News in Brief" (News in Brief). The Times. Friday, 23 November, 1917. Issue 41643, col D, p. 8.
- ↑ Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 544.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1884). p. 202.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Monday, Jul 10, 1893; pg. 10; Issue 33999.
- ↑ Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 544.
- ↑ The Navy List. (April, 1897). p. 196.
- ↑ Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 544.
- ↑ "The Diamond Jubilee" The Times (London, England), Wednesday, Jun 16, 1897; pg. 8; Issue 35231.
- ↑ Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 544.
- ↑ Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 544.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1898). p. 288.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Monday, 20 December, 1897. Issue 35391, col C, p. 10.
- ↑ Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 544.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1901). p. 256.
- ↑ "Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 24 December, 1904. Issue 37586, col D, p. 4.
- ↑ Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 546.
- ↑ Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 546.
- ↑ Groome Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/38/458. f. 546.
