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.

Flag Rank

Groome was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 31 August, 1903.[3]

He was appointed in command of the Portsmouth Reserve Division on 3 January, 1905.[4]

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.[5] 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."[6]

He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 1 June, 1907, vice Holland.[7] 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.[8]

Groome was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 19 July, 1911.[9]

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.[10]

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[11]
Succeeded by
Vernon A. Tisdall
Preceded by
Oswald P. Tudor
Captain of H.M.S. Tribune
11 Jul, 1893[12]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[13] – 24 Apr, 1897[14]
Succeeded by
Henry M. T. Tudor
Preceded by
Wilmot H. Fawkes
Captain of H.M.S. Terrible
15 Jun, 1897[15]
Succeeded by
Charles G. Robinson
Preceded by
Ernest N. Rolfe
Captain of H.M.S. Repulse
21 Dec, 1897[16][17]
Succeeded by
Randolph F. O. Foote
Preceded by
Charles J. Norcock
Captain of H.M.S. Flora
20 Jun, 1899[18]
Succeeded by
Frederick S. Pelham
Preceded by
New Command
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Portsmouth Reserve Division
3 Jan, 1905[19]
Succeeded by
Charles H. Cross
Preceded by
Sir George T. H. Boyes
Director of Transports
11 Nov, 1907 – 1 Dec, 1911
Succeeded by
Herbert W. Savory

Footnotes

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