Bill Stone

Infobox Military Person
name= Bill Stone
born= birth date|1900|9|23


caption=
nickname=
placeofbirth= Ledstone, Devon, England
placeofdeath=
allegiance= flagicon|UK British
branch= Royal Navy
serviceyears= September 23, 1918 – 1945
rank=
unit=
commands=
battles= World War I
World War II
awards= Full list
relations=
laterwork= Store owner

William Frederick "Bill" Stone (born 23 September, 1900) is, at age 108, one of the last six veterans who fought for Great Britain and one of two remaining seamen, along with Claude Choules, to have served in the First World War. They both also served in the Second World War, with soldier Sydney Lucas making it a trio worldwide, although only Choules saw action the first time. Unlike Choules and Lucas, who subsequently emigrated to Australia, Stone still lives in Britain, as do Henry Allingham, Harry Patch and Netherwood Hughes.

Stone was born in Ledstone, Devon as one of fourteen children, and enlisted into the Royal Navy on his 18th birthday, going on to serve as a Stoker aboard the battlecruiser HMS "Tiger". He remained in the navy after the war and went on to serve as a Chief Stoker during the Second World War, where he participated in the evacuation of Dunkirk on board the "Halcyon" class minesweeper HMS "Salamander". He was also torpedoed twice, including once while serving aboard the "Crown Colony" class light cruiser HMS "Newfoundland". After the war, he ran his own barbers shop, where he also sold cigarettes and smoking tobacco.

In 2005, he became "Fox FM's Local Hero and Central Television's Personality of the Year". He broke his hip in 2006, at age 106, which forced him to leave Watlington. He moved into a retirement facility in Sindlesham, which lies between Reading and Wokingham, in 2007. [ [http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/districtarchives/archivewat.php Henley-on-Thames, Watlington District News & Information from the Henley Standard ] ]

Medals

*1914-18 British War Medal
*1939-45 Star
*The Atlantic Star
*The African Star
*The Italy Star
*1939-45 Defence Medal
*1939-45 Victory Medal (with oak leaf on ribbon – to signify mention in despatches for bravery at the Sicily landing)
*Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
*Malta Memorial Medal
*Russian Convoy Medal 1945-85
*Dunkirk Medal
*Russian Convoy Medal 1945-95

hips sailed upon

*HMS "Tiger" Battle cruiser – 1919-1922
*HMS "Hood" Battle cruiser – 1922-1924
*HMS "Chrysanthemum" Sloop – 1925-1927
*HMS "P40" Submarine Chaser – 1928-29
*HMS "Eagle" Aircraft carrier – 1929-1931
*HMS "Harebell" Sloop – 1931-1933
*HMS "Thanet" Destroyer – 1933-1934
*HMS "Tenedos" Destroyer – 1933-1934
*HMS "Carlisle" Light cruiser – 1934-1937
*HMS "Salamander" Mine sweeper – 1937-1941
*HMS "Newfoundland" Light cruiser – 1941-1944

ee also

* Surviving veterans of the First World War

References

External links

* http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=486742
* http://www.oxfordmail.net/mostpopular.var.2443198.mostviewed.ww1_veteran_107_in_intensive_care.php
* http://www.hmsnewfoundland.org.uk/williamstone.htm
* http://www.hmshood.com/crew/biography/wfstone_bio.htm