Andrew Behan has researched this man. The only person he could trace called Bonner who died in the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps was a Corporal Horace William Bonner. We transcribed the name as "T. H. W. Bonner" which suggests either a mistake on our part or on the part of the creators of the Swire House memorial.
Corporal Horace William Bonner was born in 1901 in Charlton, London, a son of Edgar John Bonner and Ada Bonner née Brenchley. His father was a Stoker for a cable works company. The 1911 census shows the family living at 30 Hardens Manorway, Charlton. On 14 April 1919 at Kingston, Surrey, he enlisted into the East Surrey Regiment, giving his occupation as Rubber Miller. Whilst in the East Surrey Regiment he had two service numbers, 6132939 and 12492.
On 30 October 1925 in Hong Kong, still as a Private, he purchased his discharge from the army. In 1929 he married Raquel Castello in Hong Kong. They had two daughters and lived in the Quarry Bay area. He worked for the Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Company and joined the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps, service number 1700, rising to the rank of Corporal and was attached their ASC Unit. On 22 December 1941 he was killed in action, aged 40 years, and is buried in Grave 5.E.16, Stanley Military Cemetery, Stanley, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, China.
