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29/01/2009
Funeral Held For World War I Veteran
The funeral of the last British serviceman to have served in both World Wars has today taken place.
William "Bill" Stone, 108, a former chief stoker in the Royal Navy, was buried today following a service at St Leonard's Church, Watlington, in Oxfordshire.
Bearing the coffin in to the church 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 last November - 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".
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.
Mr Stone's daughter Anne Davidson said: "It was wonderful to see so many of William's old friends from both Watlington, where he lived for 20 years, and from all the organisations to which he belonged.
"William would have been truly delighted. He had an amazingly long and happy life.
"We would like to thank all those who sent the hundreds of kind messages from all over the country and many other parts of the world."
Mr Stone was the last remaining Royal Navy veteran of World War I and in November he lead the nation's remembrance at the Cenotaph in London along with fellow WWI veterans 112-year-old Henry Allingham and 110-year old Harry Patch.
(JM/BMcC)
William "Bill" Stone, 108, a former chief stoker in the Royal Navy, was buried today following a service at St Leonard's Church, Watlington, in Oxfordshire.
Bearing the coffin in to the church 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 last November - 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".
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.
Mr Stone's daughter Anne Davidson said: "It was wonderful to see so many of William's old friends from both Watlington, where he lived for 20 years, and from all the organisations to which he belonged.
"William would have been truly delighted. He had an amazingly long and happy life.
"We would like to thank all those who sent the hundreds of kind messages from all over the country and many other parts of the world."
Mr Stone was the last remaining Royal Navy veteran of World War I and in November he lead the nation's remembrance at the Cenotaph in London along with fellow WWI veterans 112-year-old Henry Allingham and 110-year old Harry Patch.
(JM/BMcC)
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