The son of Herman Bonham-Carter, a Major in the Royal Engineers, and his wife, Margaret Louisa Wathen, Philip was born at Karachi in British India on 12 November 1891.

He joined the Royal Navy and was promoted Lieutenant in June 1913. He served during the First World War, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander in 1921.  He served in HMS C19, D7, B1, in command, K2 and E2.

A physically strong and deeply religious man, he was known during his naval service as “Bonham the Good”.

1932, he was appointed to HMS MALCOLM for command of a group of destroyers in reserve.  He was relieved in this appointment for contravening King’s Regulations and Admiralty Instructions in making a speech to sailors. He was not to be employed again, and placed on half-pay.

Bonham-Carter played first-class cricket for the Royal Navy, debuting against the British Army cricket team at Lord’s in 1919.  He played two further first-class matches for the Royal Navy, against the Army at Lord’s in 1921 and the Marylebone Cricket Club at Chatham in 1929.

He died at Hampstead in 1934 following an illness.  His uncle, Maurice Bonham-Carter, was a senior naval officer and first-class cricketer, while his grandfather, William Wathen, and great-grandfather, George Norman, both played first-class cricket.