BORN SOUTHWELL, NOTTS 1866. SON OF ROBERT CROOM (1844-1922) AND EMMA COBB (1845-1904). HE HAD FOUR SISTERS AND TWO BROTHERS.
HE MARRIED HANNAH TOMLINSON (1881-1956), AT NEWARK, IN 1899. HIS WIFE, HANNAH CROOM, LIVED AT 16 BONFIELD TERRACE, WALCOTT STREET, HULL (CWGC ADDRESS). THEY HAD FIVE CHILDREN, HARRIET, ROBERT, TOM, MARY AND RUBY. HE WORKED AS A CHIMNEY SWEEP IN GRANTHAM (1911 CENSUS).
HE ENLISTED IN HULL. HE SERVED IN THE 1ST GARRISON BATTALION, EAST RIDING REGIMENT. DIED OF PNEUMONIA CONTRACTED ON ACTIVE SERVICE, IN STAFFORDSHIRE, ON 16/01/1916, AGED 50. BURIED AT WHITTINGTON (ST. GILES) CHURCHYARD, STAFFORDSHIRE.
HIS NAME IS LISTED IN THE ST BARNABAS BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE. BURIED ST GILES CHURCH. WHITTINGTON (ST. GILES) CHURCHYARD. HIS GRAVE INSCRIPTION, READS, “BEYOND RECALL BUT EVER IN THOUGHT FROM HIS WIFE AND FIVE CHILDREN”
HIS BROTHER, TOM, SERVED AS PRIVATE, 36644, 2ND YORK & LANCS, AND WAS WOUNDED IN THE WAR. HIS OTHER BROTHER, SAM, SERVED AS 641, 1ST SHERWOOD FORESTERS.
