Bonner-Smith married Vlasta Eileen Done. At the time of his death, he resided at Uplands, Lyth Hill Road, Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury in Shropshire.[2]
Professional careeredit
Bonner-Smith entered civil service at the Admiralty on Trafalgar Day (21 October) 1909. After serving in the Admiralty's record office, he was appointed to the staff of the Admiralty Library in March 1911. During World War I, he held an honorary commission in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. From 1923 tp 1925, he served as the secretary to the Naval Attaché in South America. he was appointed deputy librarian in 1931 on the death of W.G. Perrin and the appointment of J. Falkner Phillips, M.B.E., as Admiralty Library. Bonner-Smith was appointed Phillips's successor in March 1932 and served until his retirement at the age of 60 in 1950.[3][4] A frequent contributor to the Mariner's Mirror, he served as its editor from 1932 to 1939. The Society for Nautical Research elected him an Honorary Vice-President on his retirement.[5][6]
His anonymous obituarist in The Mariner's Mirror wrote of him that "it has been said that Bonner-Smith not only knew every one of the 100,000 books in the library, but was also familiar with all their contents. It is a fact that he could immediately direct students and enquirers to whatever references were needed, and have the necessary books at once placed before them, Scores of our members must owe a great debt of gratitude to his ever-ready and encyclopaedic acquaintance with books and documents dealing with the sea and the services."[7]
The Times reported that "It was a bitter disappointment to him that his scholarship and unique qualifications had received so little appreciation that, during the war, he was transferred to mere routine work of small importance while the library to which he devoted all his enthusiasm and the greater part of his official life was put into other hands; and later, that the official call for a volunteer to succeed him on his coming retirement should specify that no previous library experience was necessary."[8]
Publicationsedit
Bonner-Smith was a devoted member of the Navy Records Society and, at the time of his death, was reputed to have "edited more volumes than any other member; his scholarly were a model of what such contributions should be."[9]
Letters of Admiral of the fleet, the John Jervis, Earl of St. Vincent whilst the first lord of the Admiralty, 1801-1804, edited by David Bonner Smith. Publications of the Navy Records Society, vols. 55, 61 ([London]: Printed for the Navy Records Society, 1922–27).
The Barrington papers: selected from the letters and papers of Admiral the Hon. Samuel Barrington, edited by D. Bonner-Smith. Publications of the Navy Records Society, vols. 77, 81. ([London]: Printed for the Navy Records Society, 1937–41).
Recollections of my sea life from 1808 to 1830, by Captain John Harvey Boteler, R.N., edited by David Bonner-Smith. Publications of the Navy Records Society, v. 82 ([London]: Printed for the Navy Records Society, 1942).
Russian war, 1854, Baltic and Black Sea: official correspondence, edited by edited by D. Bonner-Smith and Captain A.C. Dewar. Publications of the Navy Records Society. v. 83. ([London]: Printed for the Navy Records Society, 1943).[10]
Russian War, 1855, Baltic: official correspondence [of Sir Richard Saunders Dundas], edited by David Bonner-Smith. Publications of the Navy Records Society, vol. 84. ([London]: Printed for the Navy Records Society, 1944).
The Second China War, 1856-1860, edited by D. Bonner-Smith and E. W. R. Lumby. Publications of the Navy Records Society, v. 95 ([London]: Printed for the Navy Records Society, 1952).
The Commissioned Sea Officers of the Royal Navy, 1660-1815, three volumes (London: National Maritime Museum, ca. 1954).[11]
^"Obituary". The Mariner's Mirror, vol. 37, no. 1 (1951), p. 4
^"Obituary", The Mariner's Mirror, vol. 37, no. 1 (1951), p. 4
^"Obituary: Mr. D. Bonner-Smith," The Times, 13 Dec 1950, p. 8.
^"Obituary: Mr. D. Bonner-Smith," The Times, 13 Dec 1950, p. 8
^Note in the Bodleian Library Catalog: "Correspondence between the Admiralty and Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier respecting naval operations in the Baltic.--Correspondence between the Admiralty and Vice-Admiral Sir James Deans Dundas respecting naval operations in the Black Sea."
^Note in the Bodleian Library Catalog: "The work was begun by David B. Smith, Admiralty librarian, and completed after his death by the R. N. College, Greenwich, in collaboration with the National Maritime Museum".
April 12, 2024
david, bonner, smith, 1890, december, 1950, historian, royal, navy, served, admiralty, librarian, from, march, 1932, until, 1950, contents, personal, life, professional, career, publications, referencespersonal, life, editbonner, smith, married, vlasta, eileen. David Bonner Smith 19 May 1890 10 December 1950 historian of the Royal Navy served as Admiralty Librarian from March 1932 until May 1950 1 Contents 1 Personal life 2 Professional career 3 Publications 4 ReferencesPersonal life editBonner Smith married Vlasta Eileen Done At the time of his death he resided at Uplands Lyth Hill Road Bayston Hill near Shrewsbury in Shropshire 2 Professional career editBonner Smith entered civil service at the Admiralty on Trafalgar Day 21 October 1909 After serving in the Admiralty s record office he was appointed to the staff of the Admiralty Library in March 1911 During World War I he held an honorary commission in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve From 1923 tp 1925 he served as the secretary to the Naval Attache in South America he was appointed deputy librarian in 1931 on the death of W G Perrin and the appointment of J Falkner Phillips M B E as Admiralty Library Bonner Smith was appointed Phillips s successor in March 1932 and served until his retirement at the age of 60 in 1950 3 4 A frequent contributor to the Mariner s Mirror he served as its editor from 1932 to 1939 The Society for Nautical Research elected him an Honorary Vice President on his retirement 5 6 His anonymous obituarist in The Mariner s Mirror wrote of him that it has been said that Bonner Smith not only knew every one of the 100 000 books in the library but was also familiar with all their contents It is a fact that he could immediately direct students and enquirers to whatever references were needed and have the necessary books at once placed before them Scores of our members must owe a great debt of gratitude to his ever ready and encyclopaedic acquaintance with books and documents dealing with the sea and the services 7 The Times reported that It was a bitter disappointment to him that his scholarship and unique qualifications had received so little appreciation that during the war he was transferred to mere routine work of small importance while the library to which he devoted all his enthusiasm and the greater part of his official life was put into other hands and later that the official call for a volunteer to succeed him on his coming retirement should specify that no previous library experience was necessary 8 Publications editBonner Smith was a devoted member of the Navy Records Society and at the time of his death was reputed to have edited more volumes than any other member his scholarly were a model of what such contributions should be 9 Letters of Admiral of the fleet the John Jervis Earl of St Vincent whilst the first lord of the Admiralty 1801 1804 edited by David Bonner Smith Publications of the Navy Records Society vols 55 61 London Printed for the Navy Records Society 1922 27 The Barrington papers selected from the letters and papers of Admiral the Hon Samuel Barrington edited by D Bonner Smith Publications of the Navy Records Society vols 77 81 London Printed for the Navy Records Society 1937 41 Recollections of my sea life from 1808 to 1830 by Captain John Harvey Boteler R N edited by David Bonner Smith Publications of the Navy Records Society v 82 London Printed for the Navy Records Society 1942 Russian war 1854 Baltic and Black Sea official correspondence edited by edited by D Bonner Smith and Captain A C Dewar Publications of the Navy Records Society v 83 London Printed for the Navy Records Society 1943 10 Russian War 1855 Baltic official correspondence of Sir Richard Saunders Dundas edited by David Bonner Smith Publications of the Navy Records Society vol 84 London Printed for the Navy Records Society 1944 The Second China War 1856 1860 edited by D Bonner Smith and E W R Lumby Publications of the Navy Records Society v 95 London Printed for the Navy Records Society 1952 The Commissioned Sea Officers of the Royal Navy 1660 1815 three volumes London National Maritime Museum ca 1954 11 References edit Who was Who 1941 1950 Who was Who 1941 1950 Who was Who 1941 1950 Obituary Mr D Bonner Smith The Times 13 Dec 1950 p 8 Editorial Centenary Issue Mariner s Mirror vol 97 no 1 2011 p 3 Obituary The Mariner s Mirror vol 37 no 1 1951 p 4 Obituary The Mariner s Mirror vol 37 no 1 1951 p 4 Obituary Mr D Bonner Smith The Times 13 Dec 1950 p 8 Obituary Mr D Bonner Smith The Times 13 Dec 1950 p 8 Note in the Bodleian Library Catalog Correspondence between the Admiralty and Vice Admiral Sir Charles Napier respecting naval operations in the Baltic Correspondence between the Admiralty and Vice Admiral Sir James Deans Dundas respecting naval operations in the Black Sea Note in the Bodleian Library Catalog The work was begun by David B Smith Admiralty librarian and completed after his death by the R N College Greenwich in collaboration with the National Maritime Museum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title David Bonner Smith amp oldid 1084003122, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
