War veteran dies aged 108

6:00pm Monday 12th January 2009

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William Stone, one of the three remaining British First World War veterans, has died at the age of 108.

Mr Stone, who spent more than 20 years of his life living in Watlington, celebrated his 108th birthday in September.

He laid a wreath to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War at the Cenotaph in London in November.

He died in his sleep at the care home in Sindlesham, Berkshire, where he has lived since February 2007, on Saturday, after contracting a cold.

His daughter, Anne Davidson, her husband and his grandson were with him when he died.

Mrs Davidson said: “He was a tremendous character, a man of great faith and he would like to be remembered as a very happy person.”

Mr Stone served in the Royal Navy between 1918 and 1945, making him one of only two surviving British veterans to have served during both world wars.

fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk