There is some confusion over the spelling of the surname this man's family. It has been recorded variously as Room, Rooms and Roome.
Charles Henry Room was born on 7 May 1880, one of the five children of George Room (1839-1920) and Emily Room née Ward (1846-1933). His birth was registered as Charles Henry Room in 2nd quarter of 1880 in the Marylebone Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London). On 4 July 1880 he was baptised as Charles Henry Room at St Thomas's Church, Portman Square, Marylebone, where in the baptismal register it confirms his date of birth, that his family were shown to be living at 6 Stratford Mews, Marylebone and that his father was a stable foreman.
The 1881 census shows him as Charles H. Room, aged 11 months and living at 5 and 6 Stratford Mews, Marylebone, with his parents and his sister Georgina Emily Room (1874-1965). His father was described as an ostler.
When the 1891 census was undertaken, the family were now recorded with their surname as Rooms. He was recorded as Charles H. Rooms, aged 10 years and still residing at 5 and 6 Stratford Mews, Marylebone, with his parents and two siblings: Harriet Ethel Rooms (b.1882) and Joseph Ernest Rooms (1889-1966), together with seven male boarders. His father and the seven boarders were all shown as horse-keepers.
Postal service records show that In October 1896 he was appointed as a tube attendant at the Western District Office and in January 1900 he became a postman in West London.
He was shown as Charles H. Room, aged 20 years and a postman in the 1901 census, living at 5 Stratford Mews, Marylebone, with his parents and two siblings: Harriet Ethel Room - a commercial clerk and Joseph Ernest Room. His father was again shown as a horse-keeper.
On 21 October 1909 he married Sarah Charles (1878-1946) in St Pancras Register Office, London, where in the marriage register he shown as Charles Henry Roome, aged 29 years, a bachelor and a postman residing at 4 Werrington Street, the son of George Roome, a horsekeeper, whilst his wife was recorded as aged 30 years and spinster, living at the same address, the daughter of Samuel Charles, a deceased coal merchant.
The 1911 census shows him as Charles Henry Roome, aged 30 years and postman, still living in three rooms at 4 Werrington Street, Oakley Square, London, N.W.1, with his wife their one year old daughter, Marjorie Roome (1909-1991). His occupation was still recorded as a postman.
As Charles Henry Roome he was serving as a Private in the 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), service number T/242631, when he died on 30 November 1917, aged 37 years. As he has no known grave, he is commemorated on , 1 Rue de Malet, 62147 Doignies, France.
On 21 December 1918 his widow received his effects from the army, totalling £5-14s-9d. Probate was granted to his widow on 31 December 1918 and this shows that they had been living at 114 College Place, Camden Town. His effects totalled £227-9s-0d. On 24 December 1919 she received his £3-0s-0d war gratuity. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as 'ROOME, C. H.' on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the , on the , on the , on the , on the and on .
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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