Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War ‘Evacuation from Greece’ D.S.O. group of eleven awarded to Commander F. A. Bond, Royal Naval Reserve, a survivor of the wreck of the Hospital Ship Rohilla in November 1914, he was 63 years old at the time of winning the D.S.O.

Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, reverse officially dated 1941, with integral top riband bar; Transport 1899-1902, 2 clasps, China 1900, S. Africa 1899-1902 (F. A. Bond.) initials officially corrected; 1914-15 Star (Lieut, F. A. Bond, R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Commr. F. A. Bond. R.N.R.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Naval Reserve Decoration, G.V.R., the reverse hallmarked London 1920, mounted as worn, very fine or better (11) £2,000-£2,600

D.S.O. London Gazette 11 November 1941, ‘For gallantry and distinguished services in operations in Greek waters: To be Companions of the Distinguished Service Order - Commander Frank Albert Bond, R.D., R.N.R. (Retired) H.M.S. Ulster Prince.’

Frank Albert Bond was born in Hackney, Middlesex, on 9 December 1877, and joined the merchant service as a 2nd Mate in October 1897. He served as 2nd Officer of the S.S. Virawa (British India Steam Lines) to qualify for the Transport medal with clasp for ‘China 1900’. He does not appear to be entitled to the ‘S. Africa 1899-1900’ clasp and has probably added this clasp believing himself to be entitled for bringing back troops from South Africa between 1903 and 1906.

He was appointed Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve on 29 April 1911, and shortly afterwards, on 1st June, joined S.S. Rohilla as 1st Officer. On 6 August 1914, she was requisitioned as a Hospital ship and became known as the H.M.H.S. Rohilla. She was refitted with the necessary equipment and all her passenger accommodation became hospital wards, fitted with two operating theatres. On 30 October 1914, sailing from South Queensferry, Firth of Forth, for Dunkirk to evacuate wounded soldiers, with 224 men, including medical staff, and five nurses on board, the Rohilla ran aground on Saltwick Nab, a reef about a mile east of Whitby, North Riding of Yorkshire, during a full North North East gale and with the lighthouses unlit due to the war. The reef is about 400 yards offshore and the ship soon broke her back. When rescue operations finished on 1 November, 83 men had been lost over the course of the three days. Lifeboats from Scarborough, Teesmouth, Tynemouth, Upgang and Whitby were involved. The self-righting Whitby No. 2 lifeboat John Fielden saved 35. The Tynemouth motor lifeboat Henry Vernon with her Coxswain and Second Coxswain on board, as well as Captain Burton and Commander Hall, battled 45 miles down an unlit coast against the gale to save 50 lives. Fifty-six other survivors made their own way ashore and a number of onlookers rushed into the surf to drag them out. In all, 146 of the 229 on board, including Captain Neilson and all the nurses, as well as Titanic survivor Mary Kezia Roberts, survived.

During the Great War he served aboard the destroyers Quail, from 8 January 1915, Ranger, from 16 June 1915, in command, and Angler, from 13 February 1917, in command. On 30 March 1918, he was appointed to Egmont, shore base, Malta, on special service. Bond was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander R.N.R. on 29 April 1919, and awarded the Reserve Decoration in 1920. He joined the Dock Staff on 29 March 1921, as Marine Superintendent, and was pensioned from 25 April 1927.

Commander Bond was moved from the Retired List to the Active List and appointed to the command of H.M.S. Ulster Prince on 19 August 1940. In April 1941 the Ulster Prince took part in Operation ‘Demon’, the evacuation of Imperial troops from Greece between 24th and 29th April, 1941. The official Admiralty report states: ‘H.M.S. ULSTER PRINCE in attempting to go alongside the quay ran ashore and, although every endeavour was made to get her off by towing, it was not possible to do so in the time available. The following day [25th April] she was heavily bombed and gutted. Apart from the loss of the ship which was severely felt during the rest of the operation, this had an unfortunate effect in that she was a physical obstruction to destroyers and corvettes going alongside, thus slowing down the rate of embarkation at Nauplia on that and other nights. I agree with the Commanding Officer that it was unwise to attempt to put her alongside when the information as to water, etc., was so meagre.

No recommendation for the award of his D.S.O. appears to have survived but bearing in mind that two D.S.C’s, a D.S.M. and a mention were also awarded to this vessel on this occasion, there must have been some other incident that merited such awards other than the grounding and loss of the vessel.

Commander Bond was appointed to Leigh Naval Base on 8 April 1942, and was still serving there in 1944. He reverted to the Retired List as from 31 August 1945. He lived latterly off Wandsworth Common, London, and died on 17 June 1954.