Trafford

Born June quarter 1899 in the Altrincham R.D. - ref: 8a/164, the eldest son
of Edward Ernest & Edith Emily Groome (nee Roebuck).

1901 Census - "Oakleigh", Cambridge Road, Hale.    Son - aged: 2 - born:
Hale, Cheshire.    Head of Household - Edward Ernest Groome (father) -
aged: 31 - occ: Accountant - born: Old Trafford, Manchester.   Edith Emily
Groome (mother) - Wife - aged: 31 - born: Old Trafford, Manchester. 
Plus 1 servant.
  
1911 Census - "The Dene", Harrop Road, Hale, Cheshire.   Son - aged: 12 -
Scholar - born: Hale, Cheshire.  Head of Household - Edward Ernest Groome
(father) - aged: 41 - occ: Incorporated Accountant - born: Old Trafford,
Manchester.   Edith Emily Groome (mother) - Wife - aged: 41 - born: Old
Trafford, Manchester.   Plus 1 brother, 1 sister and 2 servants. 

Kia at Maubeuge, France ?????   Flying accident ? Died of wounds ? or the
Influenza Pandemic ? seems more likely given the date of his death.

Commemorated on the private family gravestone in Hale Cem.      His mother,
Edith died 18/09/1913.

Not mentioned in "The Sky their Battlefield".

I cannot find any report of his death in the local newspapers March to June
1919.

103 Squadron was formed at Beaulieu on the 1st September 1917.  It moved to
Old Sarum on the 8th September 1917 and as from the 19th March 1918, the
Squadron was flying DH9 aircraft.  It moved to Serny on the 12th May 1918
and then onto Fourneuil on the 3rd June 1918.  It moved to Floringhem on
the 21st October 1918 and to Ronchin on the 26th.   The Squadron was
stationed at Maisoncelle from the 26th January 1919, until it moved back to
Shotwick in the UK on the 28th March 1919, being disbanded on the 1st
October 1919.

Maubeuge was in German hands throughout the war and was only captured from
them a few days before the end of it.   The 5th Casualty Clearing Station
was posted in the town from the end of November 1918 through to the 22nd
March 1919.