Sir David William Bone (22 June 1874''Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950'' – 17 May 1959) 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 George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of Ind ...

in 1937 for his long association with the Merchant Navy. He was also appointed a CBE in 1943. 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 Hyndland Secondary School is a non-denominational state comprehensive school in the Hyndland area of Glasgow, Scotland. The school provides secondary education for children from the local area, although there are many children from other area ...

. 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.

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) *''Merchantmen Rearmed'' (1949) *''The Queerfella'' by David W Bone (1952) *''Landfall at Sunset; the life of a contented sailor'' by David W Bone (1955)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bone, David 1874 births 1959 deaths 20th-century British male writers Writers from Glasgow British Merchant Navy officers People from Partick Members of the Order of the British Empire British Merchant Service personnel of World War I Knights Bachelor British Merchant Navy personnel of World War II Scottish male writers David