Alfred Ambrose Bond

This story and photos are shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher. Photo source: Len, FindaGrave

Alfred Ambrose Bond was born on the 3rd of April 1917 and baptised on the 27th of May 1917, the son of William Thomas & Maud Bond, 13, Carthage Street, Greenwich. William and Maud Bond (née Griffiths) had married in the June quarter of 1910. William Bond was a widower, as his previous wife, Susan Bond had died in the June quarter of 1905, aged 36 years.

On the 1901 census, William & Susan Bond are seen living at 53, Sparta Street, Lewisham, with their family, Daisy, 8, William, 4, Amy, 2 and Walter 8 months old. William Thomas Bond, 31, was a General Labourer, born in Lewisham, as was all the family except Susan Bond, 30, who had been born in Greenwich.

The 1911 census shows the new family living at 72 Cold Bath Street, Greenwich, with William Thomas Bond as head of the household. He also tells us that 9 children had been born to him, but sadly 5 had died. He was working as a Labourer at an Engineering Works. Maud Bond, aged 30 years tells us that 1 child had been born to her and was still living.

We find Alfred Bond for the first time in the 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th of June 1921. They family had moved again, this time to 8, Carthage Street, Lewisham, London, and the family had grown. William Thomas was working as a Scaffolder for Bovis Builders, London, at the Lewisham Housing Scheme. Maud Florence Bond, now 40 years and 8 months old was doing ‘Home Duties.’ They had 6 children including  Alfred Ambrose Bond, aged 4 years and 2 months old

I have no information on Alfred Bond’s childhood or teen years, but he married Ivy Ethel Jelley on the 19th of August 1939 in St. Paul’s Church, Deptford. Alfred was working as a Flour Miller and Ivy was working as a Carton Wrapper.

The 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th of September 1939, shows the young couple living at 25 Hadrian Street, Greenwich, Greenwich, London. Ivy Bond was now doing ‘Unpaid Domestic Duties.’

A few months later, he and Ivy had moved to 89 Creek Road, London, and Alfred had enlisted on the 15^th of February 1940 at Winterborne Dauntsey, Wiltshire. He was posted to 65 Field Company, Royal Engineers on the 8th June 1940 and according to his service record he saw service in Africa as well as France. He embarked for the Middle East on the 15th June 1942, arriving there on the 14th August. He spent over a year there before his unit was sent back to the UK, embarking on the 22 December 1943 and arriving on the 6th January 1944.

Alfred was killed on 6th June 1944. Some of the men of 65 Field Company, Royal Engineers landed at intervals from 09:00 on Nan White, Nan Red and Mike sectors, Juno Beach. But some members of the unit were being transported on SS Sambut. As she was sailing in convoy opposite the White Cliffs of Dover she was hit by shellfire from German cross Channel guns sited in France. A number of those on board were killed or badly wounded and orders were given to abandon ship. He was killed, probably drowned, when the ship was hit. His body was recovered by a destroyer and brought back to the UK and he was buried in St James' Church, Dover. His casualty card records that Ivy was notified of his death on 10th June 1944.

I believe that Ivy Ethel Bond remarried in the December quarter of 1960 in the Greenwich Registration District to Leslie F.A. Barham.