3rd Bn Northumberland Fusiliers

[Guest ndbeattie]

This soldier is my great uncle and I'm looking for whatever information there is about him.

I know he died on the 4th July 1917 and is buried in Falstone cemetry but that is about it.

Does anyone know anything about him.

Thanks

[sandyford]

Hi ndbeattie

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site, shows the death of your great uncle, Pte. Rome J.J. 96767 Northumberland Fusiliers as 4th July 1919 buried at Falstone.

When I searched for his medal card, any regiment, I could not find Pte Rome J. J. in Northumberland Fusiliers.

There were only 6 soldiers altogether, any regiment, with this name and these 2 were interesting

Pte. Rome John J. Border Regiment 19519

Pte Rome John J. Border Regiment 12426 & Labour Corps 656549

The Border Regiment connection is interesting because of the burial being at Falstone.

I wonder if he was wounded and then transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers and died back at home.

His death certificate or the actual medal roll would probably help with further information.

Kate

P.S. The 3rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers were home service.

[sandyford]

The CWGC site gives his full name as John James Rome aged 19, son of Janet Rome of Donkley Wood, Falstone.

Kate

[Graham Stewart]

Have to agree with Kate that this is a 1919 death of a young soldier and although he was serving with the 3rd(Reserve)Bn,N.F. at the time he may have actually been with either the 52nd(Graduated)Bn,N.F. or 53rd(Young Soldier)Bn,N.F. prior to this. This is based on the fact that all other deaths around him are young soldiers serving with these battalions, who have died through illness, possibly influenza. None of them were transferred in from other units or were recovering from wounds.

Graham.

[Guest ndbeattie]

Have to agree with Kate that this is a 1919 death of a young soldier and although he was serving with the 3rd(Reserve)Bn,N.F. at the time he may have actually been with either the 52nd(Graduated)Bn,N.F. or 53rd(Young Soldier)Bn,N.F. prior to this. This is based on the fact that all other deaths around him are young soldiers serving with these battalions, who have died through illness, possibly influenza. None of them were transferred in from other units or were recovering from wounds.

Graham.

[Guest ndbeattie]

Thanks to you both for your replies. I'll dig along a few more lines and see what I turn up. I'll keep you in the picture.

[Guest tdewis]

Neil,

I'm guessing you are the son of Robert, from Galashiels, My Grandad was John Rome's brother - Andy.

with regards to John Rome, the following info was given to me by my grandad & his brother Bryson Rome.

In 1970 we visited Edinburgh Castle, and viewed the memorial book for John Rome, a member of the Scots Guards, ( if you go in the chapel in edinburgh castle from memory johns name is shown on the war memorial for the royal scots guards).

John joined the army at the age of 14 he misinformed the authorities that he was 16. He was a sniper by profession and was wounded in action. this links in with the postings suggesting he was wounded and later transfered to the northumberland regiment.

If you would like any further info , please contact me

Terry Dewis

Kelso

[Graham Stewart]

Terry,

I'm not certain that the information that you've provided is the right Rome at all, as the lad buried in Falstone, Northumberland was from there and not the Scottish Borders.

Three Rome's who have connections with the Borders who were killed or died are;-

44304 Pte John Rome, Machine Gun Corps

born - ?; enlisted - Annan, Dumfires; residing - Rigg,C/land; Died of Wounds 30/3/1917 (formerly 2671 Kings Own Scottish Borderers)

46840 Pte James Rome, 1st Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers

born - Cambuslang, Lanarks; enlisted - Annan, Dumfries; Killed in Action 9/4/1917 (formerly 4292 Royal Engineers, 52nd Lowland Division).

45532 Pte Joseph Rome, 1/5th Bn, Kings Own Scottish Borderers

born - Kirkpatrick; enlisted Galashiels; residing - Kirkpatrick; Died Home 25/4/1919.

Currently using every source possible I can find no-one of the name Rome linked to the Scots Guards.

The 96767 Pte John J. Rome, 3rd(Reserve)Bn, N.F., who died 4th July 1919, may have been a relative of 2709 Sgt John Thomas Rome, 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, a regular soldier and originally of Wolverhampton, Staffs, who was Killed in Action 14/10/1914.

Graham.

[Guest ndbeattie]

Terry,

I'm not certain that the information that you've provided is the right Rome at all, as the lad buried in Falstone, Northumberland was from there and not the Scottish Borders.

Three Rome's who have connections with the Borders who were killed or died are;-

44304 Pte John Rome, Machine Gun Corps

born - ?; enlisted - Annan, Dumfires; residing - Rigg,C/land; Died of Wounds 30/3/1917 (formerly 2671 Kings Own Scottish Borderers)

46840 Pte James Rome, 1st Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers

born - Cambuslang, Lanarks; enlisted - Annan, Dumfries; Killed in Action 9/4/1917 (formerly 4292 Royal Engineers, 52nd Lowland Division).

45532 Pte Joseph Rome, 1/5th Bn, Kings Own Scottish Borderers

born - Kirkpatrick; enlisted Galashiels; residing - Kirkpatrick; Died Home 25/4/1919.

Currently using every source possible I can find no-one of the name Rome linked to the Scots Guards.

The 96767 Pte John J. Rome, 3rd(Reserve)Bn, N.F., who died 4th July 1919, may have been a relative of 2709 Sgt John Thomas Rome, 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, a regular soldier and originally of Wolverhampton, Staffs, who was Killed in Action 14/10/1914.

Graham.

Graham,

I think I should let you know a detail or two that I've turned up

96757 John James Rome was not a Northumbrian lad. He was born in Dumfriesshire in 1900. His family moved to Northumberland when his father was moved there by the railway company. David Scott Rome, John's father, certainly wasn't from Staffordshire.

[Guest ndbeattie]

Terry,

Thanks for the info. The family tree keeps growing, with the most surprising sources. I'm going to put my e-mail address on here, although I don't know if it's allowed.

It is ndbeattie@yahoo.co.uk

Nice to hear from a cousin, and I will keep you up to date with any new info I find.

Neil

Cwmbran

[Graham Stewart]

Neil,

Fair point never thought he could have been born outside of Falstone. Still not convinced that he was Scots Guards, wounded and transferred. The main reason being he does not have a Medal Index Card, which would have shown he was entitled to medals having served overseas.

Regardless of the fact that he may have enlisted giving a false age, which is an offence under Kings Regulations, there was a pardon given to those who deserted and those who served under age after the war, entitling them to their medals. Had he been one of those then he would be found on a Medal Index Card and in a Medal Roll Book. Ten men can be found in the Medal Index Cards with the regimental number 96767, and none are named Rome, had he had one it would have mentioned Scots Guards and his medals would have been issued with Scots Guards on the rim.

We know for a fact boys served overseas who were under age, but after a hue and cry to the Government over it, in 1915 boys were either shipped home at the request of their parents. Or if serving with the regular army or not wishing to come home, all were rounded up and placed into special boys holding battalions until they attained the age for active service, which was 19years of age.

As far as I'm aware, I'm sure that boy soldiers weren't accepted into the Guards, unless they were drummer boys due to height stipulation.

Considering your relative died in the UK, then I would be certain that a death certificate will be available and there may be even a snippet in the local newspapers about his death, but without any evidence I'm not convinced he served with anyone other than the Northumberlands.

Graham.