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Title
Date(s)
- [1918-1962] (Creation)
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Name of creator
Biographical history
Bond spent the whole of his seafaring career in the employ of the British India Steam Navigation Company. He joined as a cadet in 1918 on the ship CHAKRATA. His next ship was the CHUPRA, carrying troops from India home and from London to New Zealand. He next served on the Indian coast until 1925. He passed for Second Mate in Bombay and did tours of duty in several ships. After passing as mate, he returned to indian waters as Second Officer of the SIRDHANA, and remained in her for three and a half years. He got his Master's Certificate in 1930. His first command of a ship was in 1938, and in December 1939 was given command of the VASNA, in which he remained for the whole of World War Two. The VASNA was fitted-out in Bombay as a naval hospital ship and served in Indian Waters, with the Home Fleet in the Mediterranean, with the Eastern Fleet and with the Pacific Fleet. In 1945, the VASNA was sent to Tokio Bay to help in the repatriation of prisoners of war from Japanese camps and as a Fleet hospital ship, and was the sole British Hospital Ship in Japanese waters. Capt Bond was awarded the OBE for his services during the war. In 1947, Bond was given command of the SANGOLA and in1949 the EMPIRE TROOPER, in which he stayed for over five years. In 1956, he took command of the NEVASA, which was hired by the Ministry of Transport as a troopship. He retired in June 1962 at the age of 60.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0064 BON [1918-1962] Collection
Bond , Reginald Harold Arthur , b 1902 , Commodore
Bond spent the whole of his seafaring career in the employ of the British India Steam Navigation Company. He joined as a cadet in 1918 on the ship CHAKRATA. His next ship was the CHUPRA, carrying troops from India home and from London to New Zealand. He next served on the Indian coast until 1925. He passed for Second Mate in Bombay and did tours of duty in several ships. After passing as mate, he returned to indian waters as Second Officer of the SIRDHANA, and remained in her for three and a half years. He got his Master's Certificate in 1930. His first command of a ship was in 1938, and in December 1939 was given command of the VASNA, in which he remained for the whole of World War Two. The VASNA was fitted-out in Bombay as a naval hospital ship and served in Indian Waters, with the Home Fleet in the Mediterranean, with the Eastern Fleet and with the Pacific Fleet. In 1945, the VASNA was sent to Tokio Bay to help in the repatriation of prisoners of war from Japanese camps and as a Fleet hospital ship, and was the sole British Hospital Ship in Japanese waters. Capt Bond was awarded the OBE for his services during the war. In 1947, Bond was given command of the SANGOLA and in1949 the EMPIRE TROOPER, in which he stayed for over five years. In 1956, he took command of the NEVASA, which was hired by the Ministry of Transport as a troopship. He retired in June 1962 at the age of 60.
The Collection was presented in 1979 by Mrs Bond.
Papers of Reginald Harold Arthur Bond including night order books, some service documents and Bond's own personal papers, including diaries, kept during various commands. There are also numerous photographs, including views of B. I. Hospital ships, for example the VASNA, and views of the troopships EMPIRE TROOPER and NEVASA. Amongst the ephemera are printed books and pamphlets, including several on various campaigns throughout World War Two, published by the Ministry of Information.
In transit - item unavailable from May to August 2011
Please contact the Archive for further information.
English
Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .
Edited by Sarah Drewery, Jun 2011.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
2011-04-19 World wars (events) World War Two (1939-1945) Transport Vehicles Ships Wars (events) Diaries Bond , Reginald Harold Arthur , b 1902 , Commodore Royal Navy Primary documents Documents Information sources
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The Collection was presented in 1979 by Mrs Bond.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Reginald Harold Arthur Bond including night order books, some service documents and Bond's own personal papers, including diaries, kept during various commands. There are also numerous photographs, including views of B. I. Hospital ships, for example the VASNA, and views of the troopships EMPIRE TROOPER and NEVASA. Amongst the ephemera are printed books and pamphlets, including several on various campaigns throughout World War Two, published by the Ministry of Information.
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Conditions of access and use area
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In transit - item unavailable from May to August 2011
Conditions governing reproduction
Please contact the Archive for further information.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .
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Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
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Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English