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K.G. Bond

K.G.Bond was an Engineering Artificer stationed at HMS Seahawk. He later transferred to Weymouth then to the Far East until the end of the war.

When stationed to HMS Seahawk Kenneth brought with him his wife (Norah) and to young daughters (Joan and Valerie) leaving his young son with grandparents in Cornwall. Many of the HMS Seahawk establishment personnel had wives and families living in Ardrishaig and Lochgilphead.

Joan Pope writes:
"My father used to take my twin sister and I down to the pub / hotel (in the background of the photo) they used to serve the most gorgeous ice cream you have ever tasted , and as my sister and I were identical twins we used to cause quite a stir because nobody could tell us apart and our mother always dressed us exactly the same."

Martin remebers:
"My grandmother recalled Ardrishaig as being a 'million miles away from the war', the lifestyle was good with plenty of fish and game for the table and weekends out on the boat motoring around the West coast of Scotland."

Many thanks to Joan and Martin for bringing to life another of the people of HMS Seahawk.

B John Evitt

Hello John We have corresponded before, and you have used my photo of father's (Lt. C J V Evitt RNVR) ML.

I was just reading about Captain Dieter on your web-site, whom I can't actually remember, but I am probably one of the very few people that he treated as an osteopath, which in those days was not legal in the UK.

I suffered very badly from asthma when I was very young and had a serious attack in Ardrishaig. I was treated by Capt. Dieter on father's wardroom table and apparently was much better for it. I know both my parents were very fond of him and I believe he came to visit us in Ely after the War, where we all had lunch at the Cutter Inn. However, it may have been Captain Manning, with Dougie Sharpe as they were all good friends of father & mother, or any two of the three - so much for my memory. I certainly remember my parents reminiscing about Messrs Manning, Dieter, Sharpe and Trufusis long after the War.
I also remember father telling me of the Hedgehog and duck episode, which took place when he commanded ML472. I recall he told me that ML472 was selected, as it allegedly broke the ML speed record coming through Scapa Flow with a stern wind and tide - at least that was his story! There were also stories of hand-grenades for salmon fishing, which the local laird wasn't too happy with, although he became a good friend of Seahawk and turned a blind eye, as long as it wasn't excessive. I have a feeling he was a Campbell? One thing I do remember was sitting in the seat of the Oerlikon and wondering why there was a sheet of curved steel between it and the bridge, and father saying that was to stop him being shot as the gun rotated!
Kind regards Beresford John S Evitt