Harold James Stone

Story:
Harold James Stone was born in Charlton, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, in 1890 and baptised there on 13th August 1890, the son of James Stone and Ellen Stone (née Merryweather). He lived in Charlton until his family moved to Tilshead, Devizes, Wiltshire, just before 1911. He had previously enlisted with the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Territorial on 22 Jul 1909 but had bought himself out of the service on 12 Oct 1910. He re-enlisted on 5th September 1914 and was posted to the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment (Service No. 12181). Almost immediately on 18 Sep 1914 he was transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers (Service No. 7/14949) and served mainly in Salonika and France & Flanders, eventually becoming an Acting Lance Corporal. Whilst serving he had contracted malaria for which he was treated in Egypt.   He was discharged on 20th February 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star. He married Sarah Elizabeth Cruse on 31 Jul 1920 in Tilshead, Wiltshire, and they had one child. The 1921 Census shows him boarding with his parents at Stotford Hill, South Newton, Wiltshire, working as a Ploughman. Regrettably he died during 1934 (registered at the Salisbury, Wiltshire, Registry) and was buried at St. Andrews Church, South Newton, Wiltshire.