Joseph Groom DCM

Brecon Cemetery, WalesJoseph Groom Citation

Joseph Groom DCM (Distinguished Conduct Medal)

Colour Sergeant No. 9865 (KSLI number) Nigerian Regiment, West African Frontier Force (previously 3rd Battalion King’s Shropshire Light Infantry)

Died of malaria contracted in West Africa in Brecon 7 April 1919. Age 23

Buried in Brecon Cemetery, Wales. 3773.

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Born in Norbury, Cheshire in 1896.

Joseph Groom lived at Wigland with mother until her death and then made home at Mr A Derricutts;

Married Edith Mabel Deloura of 56 The Struet, Brecon, Powys. in 1917.

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Joseph went to France in November 1914 as part of the British Expeditionary Force, serving until 1917.

He was a King's Shropshire Light Infantry private at outbreak of war, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in 1915.

In 1917 he volunteered to serve in German East Africa and was sent to East Africa in April 1917, having married the month before.

In June 1918 he was posted to West Africa and was on holiday in Welshpool, Powys, Wales with his wife when he was taken ill with blackwater fever, contracted in West Africa, and died at the Buck Inn.

Buried in Brecon cemetery in Brecon, with full military honours on Friday 13th April 1917.

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Report in The Brecon County Times 17 April 1919 regarding the death of Joseph Groom.
“The death took place at Welshpool on the 5th inst., under peculiarly sad circumstances of Regimental-Sergt.-Major Joseph Groom, of the 1st Battalion Shropshire Light Infantry.
Only 23 years of age when he died, Sergt.-Major Groom had a wonderful war record, yet a record such as one would expect of a soldier who was known in his regiment for his dash and bravery and was esteemed accordingly by all ranks.
When the war broke out the deceased, then a sergeant, was stationed with his battalion in Tipperary.

He went to France with his unit as part of the original British Expeditionary Force and was there till the beginning of 1917.
During those fateful two and a half years he was twice wounded and won the Distinguished Conduct Medal; and helped to prove the adaptability of the British soldier by ranking as a first class machine-gunner.
Transferred to home service as a staff-sergeant, he was not long content, and volunteered to serve in German East Africa, where he was sent in April 1917.

There he was once more wounded, and during twelve months’ hard service was advanced to the rank of company-sergt.-major. He came home again in April 1918, on two months’ leave; but by June was on his way to West Africa.

Whilst there he was promoted regimental-sergt.-major, after nine years’ service with the Colours – (he joined as a boy) – and once more returned home at the end of February last.

In March 1917, he married at Pembroke, Miss Edith Mabel Delonra, of Brecon. He and his wife were spending part of a holiday at Welshpool, where on the 5th inst. he was suddenly taken ill. He died on the 7th inst., of blackwater fever, contracted in West Africa.

On Wednesday, the 9th inst., after a short service at the house, the body was taken with military honours to Welshpool station for conveyance to Brecon.

A large number of local service men home on leave marched to the station, and the greatest possible respect was shown by the inhabitants.

The funeral took place at Brecon on Friday afternoon, with full military honours. Troops from the Brecon Depot attended under the command of Lieut. Parry, and the band of the 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers (conducted by Mr. C. Fenner, L.R.A.M.) played Chopin’s ‘Marche Funebre’ and the ‘Dead March’ from ‘Saul’ on the way to the cemetery.

The Rev. H. J. Church Jones took the burial service, and at the close the usual volleys were fired over the grave, and the ‘Last Post’ was sounded to band accompaniment.

The chief mourners were the widow; Mr and Mrs Parker, Malpas, Cheshire, brother-in-law and sister; Mrs Mytton, Welshpool, sister; Mrs Delonra, Brecon, mother-in-law; Mrs Morris, Brecon, sister-in-law; Pte W. and Mrs Thomas, brother-in-law and sister; Mrs Jack Williams, Brecon, sister-in-law; Master Harry Delonra, brother-in-law; Mrs Power, Brecon and Mr W. Power, aunt and cousin; Pte J. Morris, Pte Prosser, and Mr and Mrs Cliff, Brecon.

Wreaths were sent by the following – The widow, Mr and Mrs Parker, Mrs Mytton, Mrs Delonra and family, the Sergeants’ mess at the Brecon Depot South Wales Borderers, Mrs Power and son, Mrs Jack Williams, Mrs Morris, Mr and Mrs Cliff, Pte W. and Mrs Thomas, Miss Gladys Delonra, Miss Dora Hargest, Master Steve Thomas, master Jim Morris and Master Dorie O’Shea.”

The Brecon County Times 17 April 1919