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| Funeral for World War I veteran | |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| The funeral of the last British serviceman to have seen active duty in both world wars is being held in Oxfordshire. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | |
| In November he lead the nation's remembrance at the Cenotaph in London along with two of only three surviving fellow WWI British veterans, 112-year-old Henry Allingham and 110-year old Harry Patch. | |
| William "Bill" Stone's motto was "keep going" | |
| 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". |
| Mr Stone was born on 23 September 1900 in South Devon, the 10th of 14 children. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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 1986 to be closer to their daughter Anne. | |
| (L-R) Henry Allingham, Harry Patch and Bill Stone pictured last year | |
| His wife died in 1995. Mr Stone continued to take an active role in commemorative services of both world wars. | His wife died in 1995. Mr Stone continued to take an active role in commemorative services of both world wars. |
| In 2004 he was presented with the National Veterans' Badge. | |
| He died peacefully at the Masonic care home in Sindlesham surrounded by his family. | |
| 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." | 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." |
| Mr Stone's coffin was carried into the church by a group of serving stokers. |