Alan Douglas Groom Personal Papers and Photographs

Alan Douglas Groom prior to leaving Australia for England; he is pictured second from the right, with fellow trainee pilots.

Flying Officer Alan Douglas Groom.

Wing Commander Alan Douglas Groom

Alan Groom on the day he received the Distinguished Service Order, London.
Pictured from left: Alan's mother May August Groom; Alan Groom centre; his wife Sue Groom (nee Royan).

Alan Groom 'wearing' a carpet python as a belt, Binna Burra, Queensland.

Alan Groom posing in the garden of the family home.

Alan Groom and his brother John with a carpet python, Binna Burra, Queensland.
Caption: Alan on the left about 17, John on the right age about 14-15

British destroyer HMS Carron. This ship transported Alan Groom from Sourabaya to Colombo after his release from captivity in September 1945.

British destroyer HMS Carron. This ship transported Alan Groom from Sourabaya to Colombo after his release from captivity in September 1945.

Wing Commander Alan Douglas Groom, on parade, after his return to England

Photograph of the memorial plaque erected to Alan groom at Brisbane Grammar School.
Caption: Plaque erected by Gordon Grant in the War Memorial Library, Brisbane Grammar School.

Photocopied page from the Operations Record Book, RAAF Training School, Point Cook, Victoria, awarding A.D. Groom the 'sword of honour' on in December 1934.

Four lists of examination results achieved by Alan Groom while studying at the School of Aeronautical Engineering, also included is a telegram to his family advising them of his results.

Photocopied page from 'The Tatler' showing a group photograph 'Officers of an R.A.F. Station', Alan Groom has been identified on the front row, fifth from the left.

Letter to A.D. Groom from Air Commodore C.O. Stevens commending him for his actions in Surabaya.

Report / letter written from Surabaya, Java, by Alan Groom 49 Indian Infantry Brigade, about his actions in quelling the riots in October 1945, when fighting broke out in and around Ambarawa between British troops evacuating European internees and Indonesian Republicans.

Photocopied extract from the London Gazette, regarding the Distinguished Service Order awarded to Acting Wing Commander, Alan Douglas Groom.

Extract from the London Gazette, 2/4/1946, regarding the Distinguished Service Order awarded to A.D. Groom. One typed copy and one handwritten copy of citation, with envelope address to Mr George Bourne, Rockhampton.

Typewritten report by Wing Commander Alan D. Groom regarding his time as a prisoner of war in Java and the battle of Surabaya 1942-1945.

The report has eight chapters: 1. Capitulation - Djocjacarta; 2. Soerabaia Prison Camp; 3. With Japanese "Gestapo" or Kameitai; 4. Tjipinanag and Soekamiskin; 5. Ambawara; 6. End of Japan; 7. Soerabai; 8. Occupation of Soerabaia.

Photocopied article written by Roy Bulcock published in "Man" titled 'Brisbane's hero in Java'. Roy Bulcock was a friend of Groom's who had also been imprisoned in Java during the Second World War.

Four photocopied articles in relation to Alan Groom's service during the Second World War, which include: his promotion to Flight Lieutenant in 1938; the gazetting of his DSO in 1946; his involvement in the Indonesian uprising and the memorial plaque to him at Brisbane Grammar School.

Letter to A.D. Groom from Ogawa Kiyonori, ex-prison official of Ambarawa, Java, who had been convicted of war crimes, asking for help to have his life sentence reduced or commuted. Kiyonari was repatriated home to Japan later that year, but this was not due to Groom's intervention but part of a collective repatriation program.

Copies of this letter are held in the National Archives of Australia. Refer: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=273125

Telegram from Officer Commanding No 1 Group, to the Station Commander, RAF Waddington to congratulating them on their 'show' the previous day.

Souvenir program for Royal Air Force Waddington "At home" 1952, in commemoration of the Batle of Britain.

Text of the memorial plaque at Brisbane Grammar School for Allan Groom.

Memoirs of Flying Officer, Roy Bulcock who was imprisoned with A.D. Groom in Java, titled 'Javanese Nights - a Queensland hero.'

Service record: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1064914

Draft of an article by John Bencke "A profile of courage and leadership: Group Captain Alan Douglas Groom DSO" for "Aviation Heritage", 2000 (unpublished), with covering letter from the Journal of the Aviation Historical Society of Australia.