Thomas John Stone

Story:
Thomas John Stone was born in 1890 in Shipton Gorge, Bridport, Dorset. He was the son of John Stone, an estate carpenter, and Eliza Elizabeth Stone (nee Gale). One of his siblings was brother Charles Henry (b. 1894) who also died in the war whilst Bertram Robert Stone survived the conflict. At the time of the 1911 Census John and Eliza were living in Parsonage Street, Fontmell Magna. Thomas (along with his brother, Charles,) was employed by his uncle as an ironmonger's assistant in the cycle business and living in West Street, Bridport. He married Martha Alice Clist Chick at Fontmell Magna, Dorset, on 10th March, 1916. There were no children of the marriage. He enlisted in Weymouth as a Gunner in the 111th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery (Service No. 165818). He served in France & Flanders and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died on 16th August 1917 and was buried at Artillery Wood Cemetery, Boezinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (grave id. V.B.13). His wife went on to re-marry Cecil J. Day in 1928 and they had one daughter and lived at Brach Farm, Twyford, Shaftesbury. Thomas is remembered on the Fontmell Magna War Memorial, Shaftesbury.

Printed Sources: "Fontmell Magna and the First World War", compiled by Chris Bellers, Fontmell Magna Village Archive Society, 2014.