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Funeral of World War I veteran | Funeral of World War I veteran |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The funeral of the last British serviceman to have seen active duty in both world wars is being held in Oxfordshire. | |
William "Bill" Stone died aged 108 on 10 January at a care home in Berkshire. | |
Mr Stone joined the Royal Navy on his birthday in 1918 and served on ships during both world wars, until 1945. | |
Originally from Devon, he lived in Watlington, Oxfordshire, for many years and his funeral was being held there at St Leonard's parish church. | |
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. | |
He put his longevity down to "clean living, contented mind and trust in God". | He put his longevity down to "clean living, contented mind and trust in God". |
His motto was "keep going". | His motto was "keep going". |
William "Bill" Stone's motto was "keep going" | |
Mr Stone was born on 23 September 1900 in South Devon, the 10th of 14 children and joined the Royal Navy on his 18th birthday. | |
He served as a stoker on ships such as HMS Hood and HMS Salamander and took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940, making five trips to pick up troops from the beaches. | |
After leaving the navy he returned to Devon and ran a barber's shop for many years. | |
He married his wife Lily in 1938 and they moved to Watlington in 1968 to be closer to their daughter Anne. | |
His wife died in 1995. Mr Stone continued to take an active role in commemorative services of both world wars. | |
Before the funeral service, Keith Evans, of the HMS Hood Association, told the BBC: "He constantly pulled my leg and had a rather wicked sense of humour. It was a privilege to have known Bill." |