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Frank Romaine: ARP Moulsecoomb

Frank Romaine lived with his family of eight children at 144 Birdham Road, East Moulsecoomb. He served during WWI, seeing action with the Royal Horse Artillery in a number of conflict areas, at some time also stationed at Preston Barracks for a while.

Frank married Charlotte Romaine in 1915, presumably during a spell of leave, and there were eight children of the family, two girls and six boys. Florence known as Flo, Joyce called Joy, then George known as Eddie who left the family whilst it was at Pankhurst Avenue, prior to its move to Birdham Road, followed by Frank, then Gilbert, and Albert known as Bert, David known as Dave and lastly, Cyril who died at the age of eighteen months.

Being too old for service during WWII, Frank volunteered for the ARP and duly joined the group centred on a large Anderson Shelter next to the Salvation Army Hall at Moulsecoomb Way. Social gatherings amongst the men and women together with their children were held at Moulsecoomb Hall.

The first man to the left of centre front row man is Frank Romaine, father of Joy Romaine who married Ron Spicer.
From the private collection of Ron Spicer

Comments about this page

  • My family (the Bennetts) lived next door to the Romaine family in Birdham Road, we were attached house number 142. My family moved there in 1942 and left there in 1953. By that time the Bassett family had moved I to the Romaine house at 144. I was only a baby in 1942.

    By Maureen Binstead (10/03/2020)

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