An extensive collection covering the life and career of Capt...

Hammer

£750

An extensive collection covering the life and career of Captain David Gordon Roome, MVO, RN, (1923-2009), comprising letters, newspaper cuttings, documents, photographs, naval jacket, hat and belt, a large naval union flag (probably early 20th century), his cased telescope, an 8" gun turret fire gong and splinter deck planking taken from H.M.S Exeter, a loading lamp from 10.5 cm gun turret of German pocket battleship "Graf Spee", a circular plaque with 'HMS Repulse' written on the back, and various items relating to D. G. Roome's naval appointments. D.G Roome served on H.M.S Renown, Prince of Wales and Exeter during 1939-42, (he was onboard Renown, when it was involved in the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck in 1941). He served on HMS Exeter in the Dutch East Indies, and following her sinking, he spent three years as a Prisoner of War in Japanese hands, before being liberated in October 1945. Between 1954 and 1955 Groome served as Lieutenant Commander on H.M.S Grenville and H.M.S Tyrian. From 1956-57 Groome served as Commander for H.M.S Loch Lomond, 1958-60 as a Special Assistant to Chief of Allied Staff of Commander in Chief, and 1960-62 HM Yacht Britannia as Executive Officer (Second in Command). Studying at the Imperial Defence College in 1963, Groome then went on to serve as a Naval assistant to First Sea Lord between 1964-66 before commanding H.M.S Euryalus as Captain between 1966-68. During 1968-1970, Groome was appointed to the Ministry of Defence for duty as Director of Seaman and General Naval Training. His last appointment was Senior Naval Officer in the West Indies in the Rank of Commodore before retiring in 1972. On June 8th 1963, Roome became an appointed member of the Royal Victorian Order (fourth class) and the collection includes several invites to Royal events and dinners. He was later appointed Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty the Queen on 7th July 1971. Son of Horace Eckford Roome, KCIE, CB, CBE, MC, DL, the collection also contains items relating to his father's naval career, to include the union flag. A large collection of letters sent during Roome's time as a POW are also present, a further letter written to his mother after his release, and a letter written decades later to a historian, documents his experience in the camps. Deceased estate. https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80030761