Monday - January 12, 2009

And Then There Were Ten

Bill Stone, one of Britain’s last surviving World War I veterans has died aged 108, the Ministry of Defense said Monday.  Stone is the last known veteran in Britain to have fought in both World War I and World War II. He was one of just three World War I survivors who took part in last year’s services to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I.

The Ministry of Defense said Stone died Jan. 10 from a chest infection.

William Stone was born in Devon, in southwest England, on 23 September 1900, the 10th of 14 children. He followed his three older brothers into the Royal Navy on his 18th birthday — he had wanted to join when he was 15 but his father refused to sign his papers. He joined the coal-fired battle cruiser HMS Tiger just weeks before the Allies declared victory. He stayed with the Royal Navy after the end of the war, sailing all over the world, from Cape Town to Jakarta.

He was working as chief stoker on mine sweeper HMS Salamander when World War II broke out and he took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940, making five trips to the beaches to rescue exhausted Allied soldiers.

According to Wikipedia, worldwide there are perhaps 10 surviving veterans of this conflict. Possibly as few as 5, if you keep a tight lid on the definition.

Posted by Drew458     on 01/12/2009 at 03:34 PM   
Filed Under: • Daily Life • Military •  
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