Arthur Lionel Bonsey RN (1912 - 1989)

Born 17 Aug 1912 in Bristol, England

Husband of Kathleen Mary (Pearson) Bonsey — married 24 Apr 1970 in Chelsea, London, England

Died Feb 1989 at age 76 in Barnstaple, Devon, England

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Biography

Lionel Bonsey RN was born in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England.

Arthur Lionel "Lionel" Bonsey was born on the 17th August 1912, in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, the son of Arthur Edmund Bonsey and Katherine Eliza Digby Powell.^[1]

In October 1931, Lionel was aboard the Cathay out of Kobe, Japan, arriving at London on the 16th, by way of Shanghai; Singapore; Penang; Colombo; Bombay; Aden; Suez; Port Said; Marseilles; Gibraltar; and Plymouth, Devon. His given rank was Midshipman.^[2]

By December 1938, Lionel, his occupation stated as "author", of 33 Shawfield Street, Chelsea, London, S.W., was aboard the Sibajak, travelling from England to Morocco (given as his intended permanent residence), arriving on the 16th.^[3]

Once again aboard the Cathay, this time out of Bombay India, Lionel, his occupation stated as "author", of 33 Shawfield Street, Chelsea, London, S.W.3, returned to England from Morocco, arriving in London on the 14th March 1939.^[4]

On the 29th September 1939, Lionel (27), a Dramatist, also noted as being on the emergency list RN: paymaster license, was living in the borough of Wareham and Purbeck, Dorset.^[5]

Lionel married firstly Petronelle Wise in 1946, the event being registered in the 2nd Quarter at Chelsea.^[6]

The marriage with Petronelle having ended, Lionel married Mary Norton née Kathleen Mary Pearson, on the 24th April 1970, the event being registered in the 2nd Quarter at Chelsea.^[7]

Lionel's wife, Mary, was not the only author in the family, as he was not only a writer of stories, he was also a dramatist. Two children's books by Lionel Bonsey are still available for purchase (usually second-hand) – Mrs. Privett; and Stormy Passage.

Arthur Lionel "Lionel" Bonsey passed away in February 1989, at Barnstaple, Devon, England,^[8] and was interred in St Nectan Churchyard, Stoke, where Mary would later also be laid to rest beside him.^[9]

Lionel Bonsey's Mrs Privett book cover.

Lionel Bonsey's Stormy Passage book cover.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth — England & Wales births, deaths and marriages registrations, General Register Office United Kingdom, Southport, England, HM Passport Office online search Births: Name: BONSEY, ARTHUR LIONEL; Mother's Maiden Surname: POWELL; GRO Reference: 1912 S Quarter in STROUD Volume 06A Page 609
2. ↑ International Travel—inward 1 — The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Inwards Passenger Lists.; Class: BT26; Piece: 966 Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Inwards Passenger Lists. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA). Series BT26, 1,472 pieces. Name: Arthur L Bonsey; Arrival Age: 19; Birth Date: abt 1912; Port of Departure: Kobe, Japan; Arrival Date: 16 Oct 1931; Port of Arrival: London, England Ports of Voyage: Shanghai; Singapore; Penang; Colombo; Bombay; Aden; Suez; Port Said; Marseilles; Gibraltar; Plymouth, Devon, England; Ship Name: Cathay; Shipping Line: Peninsula and Orient Steam Navigation Company Ltd; Official Number: 148843
3. ↑ International Travel—outward — The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; BT27 Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and Successors: Outwards Passenger Lists; Reference Number: Series BT27- Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Outwards Passenger Lists. BT27. Records of the Commercial, Companies, Labour, Railways and Statistics Departments. Records of the Board of Trade and of successor and related bodies. The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England. Name: Arthur Lionel Bonsey; Gender: Male; Departure Age: 26; Birth Date: abt 1912; Departure Date: 16 Dec 1938; Departure Port: England; Ship Name: Sibajak; Shipping Line: Rotterdam Lloyd Royae Dutch Mail; Destination Port: Tangier, Morocco; Master: G A Schochujer
4. ↑ International Travel—inward 2 — The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Inwards Passenger Lists.; Class: BT26; Piece: 1176 Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Inwards Passenger Lists. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA). Series BT26, 1,472 pieces. Name: Arthur Bonsey; Arrival Age: 26; Birth Date: abt 1913; Port of Departure: Bombay, India; Arrival Date: 24 Mar 1939; Port of Arrival: London, England; Ports of Voyage: Bombay; Aden; Port Said; Marseilles; Gibraltar and Tangier; Ship Name: Cathay; Shipping Line: Peninsula and Orient Steam Navigation Company Ltd; Official Number: 148843
5. ↑ 1939 England and Wales Register — The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/6962B
6. ↑ Marriage #1 — FreeBMD online index search Marriages Jun 1946: Surname: Bonsey; Given Name: Arthur L; Spouse: Wise; District: Chelsea; Volume: 1a; Page: 872 | Surname: Wise; Given Name: Petronelle; Spouse: Bonsey; District: Chelsea; Volume: 1a; Page: 872
7. ↑ Marriage #2 — "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV6G-T8KH : 8 October 2014), Arthur L Bonsey and null, 1970; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1970, quarter 2, vol. 5A, p. 1694, Chelsea, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England. Name: Arthur L Bonsey; Event Type: Marriage Registration; Event Place: Chelsea, London, England; Registration District: Chelsea; County: London; Registration Year: 1970; Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun; Affiliate Line Number: 84; Volume: 5A; Spouse Name (available after 1911): Norton; Possible Spouse: Kathleen H Norton.
8. ↑ Death — England & Wales births, deaths and marriages registrations, General Register Office United Kingdom, Southport, England, HM Passport Office online search Deaths: Name: BONSEY, ARTHUR LIONEL; Year of Birth: 1912; GRO Reference: DOR Q1/1989 in BARNSTAPLE (4041A) Volume 21 Page 778
9. ↑ Burial — Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/77297418/lionel-bonsey : accessed 10 August 2021), memorial page for Lionel Bonsey (1912–1989), Find A Grave: Memorial #77297418, citing St Nectan Churchyard, Stoke, Torridge District, Devon, England ; Maintained by Kay (contributor 47324880).

• BDM registrations.