STONE, GEORGE
Photograph with kind permission from the Uttoxeter Advertiser
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Source |
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CWGC |
SDGW |
Uttoxeter Advertiser |
Other |
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Parents |
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stone |
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1a, 1c, 1d, 1e |
2 |
Where born |
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When born |
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Position in the family |
3rd son[1a].- |
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1a, 1c |
2 |
Other brothers were Charles[1c] and Henry (Harry)[1c] |
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1a, 1c |
2 |
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Had more than one sister |
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1g, 1h |
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Address |
29 Balance Street (with parents and siblings) |
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1a, 1e, 1f, 1g, 1h |
2 |
Balance Street |
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1d |
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Parents: Dove Walk, Uttoxeter |
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1a |
2 |
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Uttoxeter |
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Yes |
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Spouse |
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Children |
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Employment Before Joining up |
Tinsmith at Messrs. Bamfords Ltd. |
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Where enlisted |
Lichfield, Staffordshire |
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Yes |
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2 |
Regiment |
Royal Field Artillery |
Yes |
Yes |
1a, 1e |
2 |
Unit |
14th Brigade |
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1a |
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‘B’ Battery, |
Yes |
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2 |
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74th Brigade |
Yes |
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2 |
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Rank |
Gunner |
Yes |
Yes |
1d, 1e, 1f, 1g, 1h |
2 |
Private |
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1c |
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Service Number |
30371 |
Yes |
Yes |
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2 |
Date of Death |
1 July 1917 |
Yes |
Yes |
1e, 1g, 1h |
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Age at time of death |
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Where Killed or died |
Mendinghem, Proven, France |
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Casualty Clearing Station in France |
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1e |
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France/Flanders |
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Yes |
1e, 1f, 1h |
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How he died |
Died of Wounds |
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Yes |
1e, 1f, 1h |
2 |
Died of Wounds received in action on 30th June 1917 |
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1e |
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Location of Grave or Memorial |
Mendinghem Military Cemetery – Grave II. E. 40. |
Yes |
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Uttoxeter Town War Memorial (Market Place) |
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2, 4 |
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Awards |
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In January 1915 the Uttoxeter Advertiser reported that he had joined the Royal Field Artillery and was stationed at Cahir County, Tipperary[1a, 2].
In January 1917 the Uttoxeter Advertiser published a list of servicemen from Uttoxeter who had written to acknowledge Christmas parcels sent by the Uttoxeter townsfolk[1b, 2]. George’s name was on the list and he was serving in France.
In the middle of June 1917 the Uttoxeter Advertiser published an article giving news of all three of the Stone brothers[1c]. Private George Stone and Lance-Corporal Harry Stone were both serving on the Western Front. Sapper Charles Stone was in hospital in Stourbridge badly wounded. He had been wounded about two months previously, so his wounds must have been serious.
On 4th July 1917 the Uttoxeter Advertiser reported the fact that he was dangerously ill in a casualty clearing station in France[1d, 2]. He was suffering from shell wounds in the skull, neck and buttocks. At the time, his brother, Charles, was still in hospital at Stourbridge, suffering from gunshot wounds and their other brother, Henry, was still serving on the Western Front.
On 18th July 1917, the Uttoxeter Advertiser reported the fact that his parents had received official notification that George had died of his wounds[1e]. The article quoted from part of a letter that Mrs. Stone had received from the Chaplain, Rev. G.H. Peskett[1e]:
“He was severely wounded in the head and legs on July [sic – really means June] 30th, and was brought to this hospital. He was quite unconscious, and immediate steps were taken to revive him. The surgeons and nurses were untiring in their efforts, and everything that surgical and nursing skill could do for him was done. But unfortunately he never regained consciousness, but became gradually weaker, until at 11:15 on July 1 he passed away quite peacefully. I was with him at frequent intervals and at the last, hoping that he would rally sufficiently to give me a message for you.
“I laid his body to rest in the military cemetery here, and a suitably inscribed cross has been put up over his grave. Your dear son has made the great sacrifice and has died as a hero, and now he has gone to receive a hero’s reward. May you be given strength to bear up under the grief of your heavy loss, and I trust the day will not be too far distant when grief will give place to feelings of great pride that you had sons to give to the country in the hour of its greatest need. I hope your eldest son is making good progress towards recovery, and that your third son will be spared to return to you safe.”
The eldest son referred to above was Charles, who had by now been discharged from hospital, had a spell at home on leave, and then returned to a depot in the Eastern counties[1e]. He survived the war.
Harry, the third son, was in France at the time[1e], and also went on to survive the war.
The Uttoxeter Advertiser roll of honour says that George died at Mendingham, Proven, France.
This notice was posted in the Uttoxeter Advertiser in July 1918 to mark the first anniversary of his death |
STONE. – In Loving Memory of my dear Son, Gunner George Stone, who passed away on active service, July 1, 1917. He bravely answered duty’s call, He gave his life for one and all. We think of him in silence, And his name we oft recall, But there’s nothing left to answer But his photo on the wall. - From his sorrowing Mother and Father, Sisters and Brothers, of 29, Balance Street, Uttoxeter; also Brothers-in-law in France. |
This very touching notice was posted in the Uttoxeter Advertiser in July 1919 to mark the second anniversary of his death |
STONE. – In Loving Memory of our dear Son, Gunner George Stone, who died of wounds in France, July 1, 1917. Out on yondr battlefield There is a silent grave Of one we loved so dearly And yet we could not save. We pictured his safe returning, We longed to clasp his hand, But God postponed the meeting - ‘Twill be in the Better Land. - From his sorrowing Father, Mother, Sisters and Brothers, 29, Balance Street, Uttoxeter. |
George’s two other brothers also served:
· Sapper Charles Stone served in the Royal Engineers[1a]. and was badly wounded in about April 1917[1c].
· Lance-Corporal Harry Stone was serving on the Western Front by June 1917[1c].