Sir David William Bone (22 June 1874Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950 – 17 May 1959)England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 was a Scottish Commodore and author of nautical fiction. His work includes The Brassbounder about a brassbounder, a young apprentice on a British Merchant ship. It was included as a recommendation in Literary Taste: How to Form It, a long essay with recommended readings written by Arnold Bennett. Brassbounder is "a classic of the squaresail era".
Bone received the Coronation Medal from King George VI in 1937 for his long association with the Merchant Navy. He was appointed a CBE in 1943 and awarded a knighthood in 1946.
Bone was born in Abbotsford Place in Glasgow, Scotland. His father, David Drummond Bone (1841–1911) was a prominent newspaper publisher in GlasgowThe Late Mr David D. Bone. The Scottish Referee, 27 October 1911. Scan via London Hearts Supporters Club and his great-grandfather was a boyhood companion of Robert Burns. Elizabeth Millar Crawford (1847–1886) was his mother. His brothers included the journalist James Bone and artist Muirhead Bone who illustrated some of David's books, including Merchantmen-at-Arms. Bone studied at Partick Academy.
Bone's career at sea began when he apprenticed at 15 on the City of Florence, "an old-time square-rigger". He also served on windjammers in Australia, with Anchor Line, and on a troop ship during the Boer War. Bone captained the SS Tuscania from New York on its first trip to Glasgow. Merchantman Rearmed describes his experiences during World War II, including the Allied invasion of Sicily.
Bibliography The Brassbounder (1910) by David W Bone Broken Stowage by David W Bone (1915), a collection of short stories Merchantmen-at-arms; the British merchants' service in the war by David W Bone (1919) The Lookoutman by David W Bone (1923) Capstan Bars by David W Bone (1931) Merchantman Rearmed (1949) The Queerfella by David W Bone (1952) Landfall at Sunset; the life of a contented sailor by David W Bone (1955)
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