Fonds MS-2-252 - Richard Edward Graham Roome fonds

Photograph of the Mausoleum of Umar Suhrawardi Photograph of children inside an unidentified building Photograph of the Al-Kadhimiya Mosque Photograph of unidentified soldiers Photograph of unidentified soldiers on horseback Photograph of people on horseback crossing a bridge Photograph of unidentified soldiers and a group of people Photograph of unidentified soldiers and people next to a YMCA building Photograph of unidentified soldiers and people Photograph of the desert Photograph of fallen soldiers Photograph of unidentified soldiers Photograph of unidentified soldiers at camp Photograph of unidentified soldiers crossing bridge with cart and donkeys Photograph of unidentified soldiers on horseback Photograph of unidentified soldiers on horseback in water Photograph of unidentified soldiers at camp Photograph of unidentified soldiers and an ox drawn cart Photograph of people outside of a home Photograph of unidentified soldiers and an artillery tractor Photograph of an unidentified soldier and a group of people Photograph of unidentified soldiers and horses near camp Photograph of unidentified soldiers and horses next to a hill Photograph of unidentified soldiers with carts in the desert Photograph of unidentified soldiers raising flag Photograph of people on horseback Photograph of unidentified soldiers Photograph of an identified soldier climbing a palm tree Photograph of unidentified soldiers with puppies Photograph of a group of people Photograph of a person getting a haircut Photograph of people outside of unidentified buildings Photograph of Maude Bridge Photograph of the Lion of Babylon statue Photograph of a section of the Ishtar Gate Photograph of boats in water Photograph of a street with people Photograph of people crossing old bridge, Baghdad Photograph of unidentified ruins Photograph of a boat next to unidentified buildings Photograph of unidentified buildings and water Photograph of three pelicans on a building Photograph of boats in water Photograph of the Dhul Kifl Shrine Photograph of a group of people Photograph of a group of people in a rowboat Photograph of people sitting on riverfront next to a rowboat Photograph of people outside of homes Photograph of a person climbing a palm tree Photograph of a person and horses
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Richard Edward Graham Roome fonds

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MS-2-252

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Physical description

85 cm of textual records and graphic material.

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Name of creator

Roome, Richard Edward Graham, Brigadier, 1892-1985

Biographical history

Brigadier Richard Edward Graham Roome was born on 1 May 1892 to George and Florence Roome in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. His early education took place in local public schools and he attended Halifax County Academy for secondary school. In 1913 he began a Bachelor of Arts program at Dalhousie University, but left in 1915 before completing his degree, to join the 2nd Heavy Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery. In England he was commissioned with the Royal Field Artillery of the British Army in September 1915. During World War I Roome saw action first in France, where he was wounded, and later in India and Mesopotamia.

After the war Roome returned to Canada and co-founded Harris and Roome Ltd., a wholesale distribution company specializing in electrical items, hardware, and batteries. He served as vice president but remained active in the local militia, most notably helping to form the 87th Field Battery in Dartmouth in 1921.

With the onset of World War II Roome returned to active duty, training troops and visiting training camps across Canada. He organized the CANLOAN program, which enabled surplus Canadian officers to serve in the British Army, which by 1943 was suffering from a serious shortage of younger infantry officers. From 1940-41 Roome was posted overseas as the Commanding Officer of the 5th Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery. In 1942 he returned to Canada, was promoted to brigadier, and placed in command of the Artillery of the 7th Divisions based in Eastern Canada. Roome’s stay in Eastern Canada was short; in 1943 he became Deputy Adjutant General for Officers and posted to National Defense Headquarters in Ottawa, where he also became chairman of the Officer’s Selection, Promotion, Reclassification and Disposal Board. In 1945 he was awarded the Commander of the British Empire medal for his service. Roome remained in Ottawa until the end of the war when he retired from active service.

In 1946 Roome returned to the Halifax area where he resumed work at Harris and Roome Ltd. and began commanding local militia units. He retired in earnest in 1951, but maintained his interest in military history, researching and writing a series of articles on the American Civil War for the Canadian Gunner.

Roome died in August of 1985 at age 93. He is known to have had one daughter, Lorna, with wife Helen (Jones).

Custodial history

Records were donated to the archives by Brigadier R.E.G. Roome of Halifax in four accessions in 1975 and 1976.

Scope and content

Fonds primarily consists of records documenting Roome's military career and research interest. The records span World War One and World War Two and include correspondence (1918-1919 and 1942-1946); war diaries (1915-1918 and 1940-1944); addresses and lectures (1928-1949); ca. 165 black and white photographs, mostly of Mesopotamia during World War I and of training exercises during World War II in Debert and Tracadie, Nova Scotia; photographs and postcards of Dalhousie; maps of England, France, and Mesopotamia from World War I; print materials which include newspaper clippings and copies of Canadian military magazines; research notes on the American Civil War; papers while Deputy Adjutant General (1943-1945) regarding awards, transfers, discharges, etc.; and miscellaneous other papers.

Notes area

Physical condition

Maps, newspaper clippings, and other textual records are brittle. Glass plate lantern slides are extremely fragile.

Immediate source of acquisition

Arrangement

Roome's records did not have any discernable order prior to archival processing. They have been grouped together according to subject or format, with order imposed by the archivist.

Language of material

  • English

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Restrictions on access

There are no access restrictions on these materials. All materials are open for research.

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

Materials do not circulate and must be used in the Archives and Special Collections Reading Room.

Finding aids

Finding aid

richard-edward-graham-roome-fonds.pdf

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No further accruals are expected.

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