3710883 Ernest Radcliffe Bond OBE QPM 1919/2003 - ex Scots Guards & SAS original

Hi,

This chap was in my relatives Scots Guards recruit Squad at Guards Depot Sept 35/Feb 1936. He enlisted under age - born 1919 so he was only 16. He had previous TA service hence his lack of a Scots Guards army service number.

He served No 8 Commando and was an SAS original. He was captured on the ill fated first operational deployment by parachute in November 1941 - Op Squatter - and was POW until the end of the war.

He joined Met Police on discharge from the army and rose through the ranks to be Commander Bomb Squad in the early 1970’s - he was referred to publicly as Commander X so “terrorist” organisations could not threaten him or his family.

Ernest Radcliffe Bond - Wikipedia

I’ve turned him up in the Medal Application database on Forces War Records - clearly a late application as it has his OBE & QPM post nominal’s listed - and is marked NFA so it was likely some sort of query. I expect his medal entitlement had been issued previously

There are some 120 approx Medal application forms in the database that show the applicant’s last unit as SAS (for info Skip) but Ernie Bond’s form shows him as Scots Guards.

I’ve not turned up his service record on Scots Guards database yet - all that is there is an empty folder.

Steve

 

Steve,

A clue (or muddying the waters!) in the Scots Guards GSM (Palestine) register?





Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Thanks Jim.

Looks like he had to reclaim his Palestine GSM for service with 2nd SG Sept/Dec1936 - presumably after its loss. There was likely a similar enquiry with Army Medal Office where his “late” Medal application form was generated.

I know from my relative that they were both transferred from 2nd to 1st SG in Sept 1938 as they only had a year to serve and 2nd SG were proceeding to Egypt for 2 years. They both went to Norway April 1940 where my relative was captured.

A good few 1st SG transferred to Commando’s in summer 1940 some of whom ended up as SAS originals - Johnny Cooper etc. Attached list shows 1st SG men in No 8 Commando (includes Ernie Bond & Johnny Cooper) - then under training at Marine Hotel, Largs, Scotland - Dec 1940 that I turned up in the file of Cpl Drongin (KIA SAS 1942) some years ago.

Steve

 

Thanks Steve, a good memory jogger, thanks for posting it, it is very much appreciated.

I guess this won't hold anything new to you, but it's a reminder of more recent dark times. Obit. from way back when (twenty odd plus years that have gone by in the blink of an eye).

Always remember, never forget,

Jim.

 

From a "lurker":

 

Hi Steve,

I wonder if his Ernie Bond's service record has been withheld due to his Police Service ?

Do you have a copy of the SG Squad Photo ?


Cheers Ian

 

Hi Steve,

I have him listed in being in Bonnigton's group for Operation Squatter.


Cheers Ian

 

Hi,

I do have the Feb 1936 Scots Guards Squad photo from Guards Depot.

He was in same squad as my relative Gdsn 2695279 P F Devlin (joined 18th Sept 1935) who was 2nd SG pre 1939. He was transferred to 1st SG when 2nd SG went to Egypt and was wounded and taken POW at Mo I Rana, Norway May 17/18th 1940.

It's a second generation copy so not of the best quality to post on the open forum but if you want a copy I'll send it to you via PM later.

A chap called Colquhoun who also joined SAS was in the same squad.

Think it’s more likely the service file has been lost as there are alot of SG files on FMP for men who were pre/post war Police Officers.

Steve