Harry Groom
When I first met Harry Groom I was still a member of Mansergh Troop, 40 Battery, JLRRA, and my first impessions were that he couldnt do enough to help us out. For such a thin, small framed bloke he had a very loud, almost nervous laugh, but he also struck me as a well settled member of 88 Battery.
We went off on Excercise Steel Trap in Germany and got to see everybody at their best and their worst, and Harry just seemed to be happy in what he was doing.
We left 4th Regt, or 4th Fd Regt as it was then, and returned to JLRRA for our Goschen parade, leave and ultimately our postings to the Regiments we were allocated to. If I'm honest, the friends we made in 4th Fd made it very easy to take up our postings. Harry was one of those friends. As you can imagine, as a NIG, just arrived at my new Regiment, I felt I was given the best posting because I was put into 88 Battery. I asked about the friends I made on that excercise. Where was so and so? Then, oh where is Harry Groom these days?
So the first lesson I learned was, don't let things build up. If you have a problem speak to your No1 or someone on your crew. I learned, and always knew that 88 Battery is a very big family, and someone will always have time for you if you have trouble.
Harry forgot the fundermental cliche that is absolutely true... A trouble shared is a trouble halved and, like anything, your problem will be treated seriously, with compassion by the people you share the name Redneck.
Sadly Harry didn't think anyone could help.
People who are that desperate can become severely misguided. I could rattle off about 100 names of people in 88 Battery when I was there who, if I had a problem I could have spoken to in confidence. I am sorry that you Harry, couldn't take that step to open up to one of your piers. You might be on this website now if you had.
A Redneck will never turn his back on a desperate comrade.
Once a Redneck, Always a Redneck!
Andy Taffy Morris
| Surname | GROOM |
| Forenames/Initials | Harold Leslie |
| Rank | Gnr |
| Service | Army |
| Service Number | 24516006 |
| Regiment/Corps | RA |
| Place of Birth/Home Town | Tangmere Sussex |
| Date of Birth | 03 January 1960 |
| Age | 19 |
| Date of Death | 10 November 1979 |
| Included on Armed Forces Memorial | No |
| Included on Roll of Honour | Yes |
