LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWI

AB Frank Room
HMS Hecla

Town Memorial P6.R4.C2

A.B. Frank Room
HMS Hecla

Aug 12 1920

Taken, Not Given, Liam Sumption, L&DLHS

Service: Frank Room was an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy.
Death certificate: Died in the Royal Naval Hospital, Yarmouth, aged 51 on 12 August 1920, of pneumonia
His address was 92 Lawrence Cottages, Barnett Wood Road, Leatherhead, Surrey.

HMS Hecla: Depot ship based at Chatham. Decommissioned 21 October 1919, re-commissioned 6 October 1921
source: at PRO file ADM53/44045 - Log of HMS Hecla

Leatherhead Parish Magazine
May 1915: advertisement from Mrs Room - Frank Room, an 'iron, metal and bottle merchant' has volunteered for the Navy for active service, HMS Dido: Mrs Room, then at Fairfield, Leatherhead, wished customers to know that the business, however, will be 'carried on as usual'. Frank Room is listed among those in H.M. Regular Forces not at present at the Front.

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CWGC record: ROOM, FRANK

Rank: Able Seaman
Service No: 126299
Date of Death:12/08/1920
Age: 51
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
H.M.S. Pembroke I.
Grave Reference: A. 145
Cemetery: CAISTER-ON-SEA (GREAT YARMOUTH) CEMETERY
Additional Information: -

HMS Hecla, as stated on the Town Memorial was a destroyer depot ship (ex-"British Crown", launched 1878, 6,400 tons, 4-12 pdr guns. Originally torpedo depot ship and played important role in developing British torpedo forces). Source: Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1906-1921

HMS Pembroke I - was an RN accounting base at Chatham between 1940 and 1960.

Frank Room was born on 31/1/1869 at Ivinghoe, Bucks., to Frederick Room and Emma, née Wells. 

Listed as an Errand Boy, he enlisted in the Royal Navy on 7/2/1884, and signed on for a further 10 years regular service from 31/1/1887. Discharged on12/2/1897, he became a General Dealer/Marine Stores. He joined the 43rd Company Imperial Yeomanry on 6/2/1901 as Private 26555, for action in South Africa.  He was released on 13/12/1901 from the 1st Provisional Battalion as medically unfit for further service.
 
He was married on 3/6/1907 to Alice Mary Johns in St Mary & St Nicholas, Leatherhead, and lived at 7 Model Cottages, near the Prince of Wales Beer House, Fairfield, Leatherhead. Two sons are recorded as born in Cobham and a daughter, reg. Epsom, in 1912.
 
On 1/12/1914 he was recalled, for Hostilities Only, to serve on HMS Dido until 28/2/1919, then HMS Hecla, 1/3/1919 to 3/5/1919. Subsequently he was assigned to HMS Pembroke I up to 11/7/1919 when invalided (insanity). He was transferred from RN Hospital Chatham to Great Yarmouth as ‘dangerous’. He died there on 12/8/1920.

Gravestone image - https://www.flickr.com/photos/36928008@N08/4299343459/ .
 
His widow, Alice M Room, of 11 Barnett Wood Lane,Leatherhead, died on 29/4/1951 at Netherne, Coulsdon, administration by her son Albert Charles Room.

the website editor would like to add further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, of his grave and of any recollections within his family

with thanks to Brian Bouchard
page last updated 30 Jul 2004: 16 Feb 14: CWGC update 7 Nov 17: 28 Jan 20