Henry Bond

Henry was the son of Edwin and Elizabeth Bond. His RN service record has his date of birth as 24 January 1876; he was baptised on 17 April 1877. Edwin and Elizabeth had at least seven children: Charles, Henry, Elizabeth, John, Ann, William and James. Edwin and Elizabeth were recorded on the 1881 Census at 25 Wornington Gardens, Kensington, with their children Charles (8), Henry (6), Elizabeth (4), John (2) and Ann (2m.). The famiy has not yet been traced on the 1891 Census but in 1901, Edwin, now a widower, was living on Marlborough Street, Paddington. Henry was not in the household on the night of the census as he had joined the Royal Navy some years before. However, four of his siblings were still living at home: Elizabeth (24), John (22), William (17) and James (15). Edwin was still living in Paddington in 1911 with his children John, Annie and William. Edwin probably died in 1918 (J/F/M Paddington) aged 68. Henry joined the Royal Navy in September 1898 when he was 22 years old but left the service in April 1906. He married Martha Mossman in Coleby, Linconshire, on 13 April 1907. Martha was born in Coleby on 24 December 1873 (1874 J/F/M Lincoln), the daughter of Joseph and Myra Mossman (m. 1873 A/M/J Lincoln). In 1891 Marth (17) was working as a ward maid at Lincolnshire County Hospital, Lincoln. By the time of the 1911 Census, Henry (36) a general labourer, and Martha (37) were living at Lowfield, Balderton, Newark. Also in the household was a boarder, Charles Stuart (25), a driller for an engineering company. Henry rejoined the Royal Navy later that year. At the time of Henry's death in 1914 Martha was living at 7a Lime Grove, Newark. It does not appear that there were any children of the marriage. Martha was living in Coleby, Lincolnshire, with her widowed mother, Myra Mossman (b. 17 October 1854, d. 1946 J/F/M Kesteven Lincolnshire, age 91), when the England & Wales Register was compiled in 1939.

He joined the Royal Navy on 2 September 1908, last service date 6 April 1906. In 1911 he was a general labourer for an engineering company. He rejoined the Royal Navy on 7 April 1911.

H.M.S. "Bulwark", Royal Navy. Henry joined the Royal Navy on 2 September 1898 on a 12 year engagement but was discharged by purchase on 6 April 1906. He served in the following ships and shore establishments: Victory II 2 September 1907-31 March 1899 (Stoker 2nd Class); Duke of Wellington l, 1 April 1899-20 September 1899; HMS Andromeda, 21 September 1899-5 October 1899; HMS Renown, 5 October 1899-15 December 1899 (Stoker 15 November 1899); HMS Sandfly, 16 December 1899-10 January 1900; HMS Renown, 11 January 1900-10 April 1902; HMS Duke of Wellington, 11 April 1903-30 September 1903; Firequeen 2, 1 October 1903-19 November 1903. (DS). Firequeen 2, 5 January 1904-9 September 1904; HMS Vernon, 3 January 1904-9 September 1904; Firequeen 2, 10 September 1904-2 January 1905; HMS Pandora, 3 January 1905-31 March 1905; HMS Amethyst, 1 April 1905-22 March 1906; Victory ll, 23 March 1906-6 April 1906. He was Discharged Shore by Purchase and his 12 year engagement cancelled. He transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve (Portsmouth) on 7 April 1906. He re-enrolled as a Stoker 1st Class on 7 April 1911 to serve to 6 April 1916, serving in Victory II, 2 August 1914-31 August 1914, and then drafted to HMS Bulwark, 1 September 1914-26 November 1914. Henry's service record was annotated, ‘NP 3063/14 DD [Discharged Dead] 26 November 1914 when Bulwark was sunk.’ Henry was one of a ship's company of about 700 men who were killed when the HMS Bulwark exploded four miles west of Sheerness on the estuary of the River Medway. Following an investigation it was decided that the explosion was probably caused by accidental ignition of ammunition rather than enemy action. The ship was largely destroyed in the explosion and the streets of Sheerness were showered with debris. Henry's body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.

On the afternoon of Thursday, November 26th, 1914, First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill made the following statement to the House of Commons : ‘I regret to say I have some bad news for the house. The Bulwark battleship, which was lying in Sheerness (on the River Medway) this morning, blew up at 7.35 o'clock. The Vice and Rear Admiral, who were present, have reported their conviction that it was an internal magazine explosion which rent the ship asunder. There was apparently no upheaval in the water, and the ship had entirely disappeared when the smoke had cleared away... I regret to say the loss of life is very severe. Only 12 men are saved. All the officers and the rest of the crew, who, I suppose, amounted to between 700 and 800, have perished. I think the House would wish me to express on their behalf the deep sorrow with which the House heard the news, and their sympathy with those who have lost their relatives and friends.’