Paddi70

A long post. but I think worth it.

RIP Mr Stone.

The funeral of William 'Bill' Stone, a former Chief Stoker in the Royal Navy and the last veteran to have served in both the first and second world wars, took place this afternoon in Oxfordshire.

Bill Stone, photographed by Don McCullin for an MOD commission to mark Armistice Day, died on 10 January 2009 [Picture: Don McCullin]

Bearing the coffin at St Leonard's church in Watlington were six Royal Navy personnel, paying tribute to Mr Stone's long military career.

Behind the coffin Leading Logistician Jon Ryder, who accompanied Mr Stone at the 90th Anniversary of the Great War Armistice at the Cenotaph in November 2008, carried William's many medals on a cushion.

These included the British War Medal for his service in the First World War and, from the Second World War, the Atlantic Star, the Africa Star and the 1939-1945 War Medal decorated with an oak leaf for 'Mentioned in Despatches'.

Standard Bearers from The Royal Navy, The Royal Naval Association, The Royal British Legion, HMS Hood Association and The Dunkirk Veterans Association processed before the hearse to the church.

During the first hymn, 'Praise My Soul the King of Heaven', Mr Stone's great-grandchildren Sophie Davidson and Annabel Powell, both aged two, laid flowers on his coffin. Mr Stone's son-in-law, Mr Michael Davidson, led the tributes during the service. The Venerable John Green QHC, Chaplain of the Fleet, gave the Address.

After the coffin was carried out of the church to the tune of 'Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye', a Royal Marines bugler sounded the Last Post and Reveille and the church bell was tolled 108 times, one for each year of Mr Stone's life.

Speaking from London, Veterans Minister Kevan Jones paid tribute to the life and career of William Stone. He said:
William's daughter Anne Davidson said:
Right to Left: Bill Stone joined fellow WWI veterans Harry Patch and Henry Allingham to mark the 90th Anniversary of the Armistice of the First World War in November 2008 [Picture: Sgt Ian Houlding]

Commodore Al Rymer of the Royal Navy represented the Ministry of Defence at the funeral. He said:
Other attendees at the funeral were Vice Admiral Sir Barry Wilson KCB, who read at the service and also represented the HMS Newfoundland Association, Mrs Lavinia Newton and Air Vice Marshal Barry Newton who represented the 'Not Forgotten' Association, and the Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Timothy Stevenson OBE, who represented HRH The Duchess of Gloucester, Patron of the World War One Veterans Association.

Following the funeral, a shrub was planted and a plaque dedicated to Mr Stone's memory in the grounds of St Leonard's church by the Watlington community.

Both William and his wife Lily attended the church regularly for twenty years, and William was confirmed there when he was 88 years old. William and his wife moved to Watlington from Paignton in 1986. Lily died in 1995, but William continued to live there in his own home until 2006 when he moved to Lord Harris Court, a Masonic care home, at Sindlesham, Berkshire.


William Frederick Stone - Biography

William 'Bill' Stone (1900 – 2009) was the last known veteran, living in the UK, to have served in both the first and second world wars. He was born in Ledstone, Kingsbridge, South Devon, on 23 September 1900.

One of a family of 14 children, at the age of 15 he went to join the Royal Navy but his father refused to sign the necessary papers as he already had three older sons in the Great War.

On his 18th birthday William did join the Royal Navy at Devonport as an Ordinary Seaman but transferred to Stoker on the insistence of his brothers who were already serving Stokers (Marine Engineer Mechanics who carry out maintenance on all marine systems on board a ship). His first ship was HMS Tiger, a coal-fired battle cruiser.

From 1922-1924 he served on HMS Hood and took part in the round-the-world 'Empire Cruise' visiting the Colonies during an eleven-month voyage. He also became the ship's barber, complete with barber's shop, during his off-duty time.

William served in a number of different types of ship during the inter-war years, eventually joining the minesweeper, HMS Salamander, as Chief Stoker in 1937.

He married his wife, Lily, in 1938 and in 1939, one week before the start of World War Two, their only child, Anne, was born. In 1940 HMS Salamander took part in the Dunkirk evacuation, making five trips to pick up troops from the beaches, and survived submarine and air attacks. Salamander was then sent on convoy escort and minesweeping duties to Archangel, Russia.

In 1941 he was drafted, as part of the advance party, to the light cruiser HMS Newfoundland, under construction at Newcastle upon Tyne. After launch, the ship joined the Home Fleet and in 1943 was sent to the Mediterranean to participate in 'Operation Husky' - the Sicily landings.

Whilst returning to its base in Malta the ship was damaged by a torpedo and subsequently had to go to Boston, USA, for repairs. Following this attack, William was 'mentioned in despatches'. On return to England William served the remainder of the war based at Plymouth where in September 1945 he ended his service after 27 years.

In civilian life he opened a tobacconist's and hairdresser's in Paignton, Devon, putting to use the haircutting skills acquired during his time in the Navy. Retiring in 1968 he and his wife moved to Watlington, Oxfordshire, in 1986 to be closer to their daughter and family.

Following Lily's death in 1995, William continued to live in his own home until he reached 106 years of age. During this time he was an active member of the Royal British Legion, and the Dunkirk Veterans, Royal Naval, HMS Hood, HMS Newfoundland and Malta George Cross Island Associations. He was also made an honorary life- member of the Western Front Association.

In February 2007 he moved into a Masonic care home at Sindlesham near Wokingham, Berkshire. He had been a Freemason since 1933. William Stone passed away at his care home on 10 January 2009.

David Lock

Lovely old chap

Apparently in recent years he used to tell people that he liked to keep fit "In case they need me again"

RIP Bill

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

What a long and distinguished career. He life should serve as a reminder to so many people RIP

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

There arent many left from the Second World War nowdays, my grandad was over at the weekend, my brother and I listend whilst he recounted some tales of his days in the Navy, he has seen stuff I cant imagine, an American Naval munitions ship exploded killing hundreds of people and he was tasked with his mates to spend days pulling corpses out of the water. He was a day from home going to demob and got called back as he was a signalman and they were short of signalmen, another year patroling before he got home.

130 men on a small Corvette, no space, once small galley, bogs with no surround, crap food, pitching and rolling, storms, bugs, U boats, mines, not seeing your family, getting shot at, getting strange illnesses in faraway places. I am sure our current troops have it a little more comfortable but its still basically the same idea, my grandad didnt get the choice to join up though so I can only begin to imagine what it felt like, being told you would have to go away.

Now I dont advocate war, but you have to do what you have to do, but perhaps if some of our current society heard stuff like what my grandad went through to help secure our freedom they might be more appreciative and less precious, less grasping and more productive.

Made me think, me me realise he is nearly 88, but still intelligent, dignified and very active, made me think I need to see my grandparents more, hear more stories, its all very well reading someone elses acounts but when its someone related to you its different.

SunnySideUp

On Polling Day, when you are inside in your warm lounge and you consider it's a bit too much trouble to walk to the Village Hall to cast your vote, so you sit there - trying to convince yourself that 'Your Vote Won't Count'.

Think of Bill, and what he went through to ensure that you had the chance to vote - think of his friends who died so you could sit in the warm secure place you call home.

When it comes to Voting Day - VOTE!! Don't grumble and moan and bleet on ... VOTE!! In Bill's memory.

Leslie

Good thinking J4CKO, make the most of your time with him when you can. As you say, you cannot beat the experiences of someone like him relating them personally.

What an amazing man Bill Stone was. My full respect to him for what he did in two world wars and also his long life. There are only two like him left now and it will signal the end of an era when they pass on. Hope that will be a while yet.

Those words from SSuP are also very apposite, excellent point being made there.

Les

Paddi70

This so important.