War veteran's funeral held
Updated on 29 January 2009
The funeral of the last veteran to have served in the First and Second World Wars has taken place.
William "Bill" Stone, 108, was buried at St Leonard's Church, Watlington, Oxfordshire, following his death on January 10.
He was described as an "inspiration" as family, friends and military personnel paid their respects at the service.
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."
The former Chief Stoker in the Royal Navy was born on September 23, 1900, in Ledstone, Kingsbridge, South Devon.
One of a family of 14 children, he joined the Royal Navy at the age of 15 but his father refused to sign the necessary papers as he already had three older sons in the Great War.
Mr Stone eventually joined on his 18th birthday as an Ordinary Seaman but was transferred to Stoker on the insistence of his brothers who were already serving Stokers.
During World War Two, as Chief Stoker of HMS Salamander, Mr Stone took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk, making five trips to pick up troops from the beaches.
He also served in the Sicily landings of 1943 with HMS Newfoundland.
Mr Stone married his wife Lily in 1938 and their daughter Anne was born the following year. Mrs Stone passed away in 1995.
Mr Stone continued to live in his own home until he reached 106 years of age before moving into a Masonic Care Home at Sindlesham, near Wokingham, Berkshire. He had been a Freemason since 1933.
In November 2008, Mr Stone took part in the 90th Anniversary of the Great War Armistice in London.
© Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
These news feeds are provided by an independent third party and Channel 4 is not responsible or liable to you for the same.
