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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 571

A good Second World War mine disposal B.E.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant A. E. Bond-Roose, Royal Engineers, who personally accounted for 600 mines at the Northam Burrows minefield, Devon with No. 508 Field Park Squadron

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (2070163 Sgt. Arthur E. Bond-Roose, R.E.), officially engraved naming upon a pre-prepared ground; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Territorial (2070163 Sgt. A. E. Bond-Roose. B.E.M. R.E.), very fine (6)

B.E.M. London Gazette 26 February 1943:

‘In recognition of gallant conduct in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner.’

The original recommendation states:

'During July and August, 1942, Sergeant Bond-Roose was the senior Non-Commissioned-Officer with a party detailed to destroy a beach minefield which had been in position for two years and in which mines were in an uncertain condition. Many of the mines were covered by large quantities of large stones swept in by the tide, and in other cases mines and recovery pickets were all buried under the drifting sand.

His sense of duty and cool leadership during this dangerous task were a perfect example to the rest of the party. He supervised the finding of all mines and personally laid the demolition charges on most of them - some six hundred in number.

When his Commanding Officer was blown up by a mine, he recovered the body, rescued the minefield plans, closed that particular section of the minefield and prepared to carry on with the main task of demolition in the best tradition of the British Army.'

Arthur Edward Bond-Roose was born on 15 June 1901 at Manchester and was a native of Gateshead, Durham upon his enlistment in the Royal Engineers on 24 April 1939. Having completed his training, Bond-Roose found himself attached to Royal Air Force Fighter Command, London from 27 July-10 August 1940, during the height of the Battle of Britain. Returned to his unit, it was for his bravery in clearing Minefield No. 50, Northam Burrows, Devon during the summer of 1942 that he was awarded the B.E.M.. It was on 12 August that his 46 year old Commanding Officer, Major Charles Frederick Byers, Royal Engineers was killed. His body having been recovered by Bond-Roose, Byers is buried in the Northam (St. Margaret) Churchyard, while Bond-Roose was released on 6 October 1945. Retiring to Devon, he died on 18 December 1977 at Paignton, being noted as an actor; sold together with original mine clearance cloth badge, silver brooch engraved 'No.78 Comp. A. E. Bond-Roose. July to Dec. 1929.' and full copied service record and research.

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Sold for
£1,200