Surviving WWI veteran taken ill

**theoriginalphantom** · 08-09-2008, 12:22

One of the last surviving British veterans of the First World War has been rushed to hospital.

William Stone, 107, served in the Royal Navy and was taken ill at his residential home in Wokingham, Berkshire, on Saturday.

He has been assessed by doctors at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and is said to be in a comfortable condition.

Mr Stone is one of only two ex-serviceman still living in Britain to have served in both world wars.
He joined the Navy on his birthday in 1918 and served until 1945.

**Balleh** · 08-09-2008, 17:30

Originally Posted by theoriginalphantom

from the BBC

One of the last surviving British veterans of the First World War has been rushed to hospital.

William Stone, 107, served in the Royal Navy and was taken ill at his residential home in Wokingham, Berkshire, on Saturday.

He has been assessed by doctors at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and is said to be in a comfortable condition.

Mr Stone is one of only two ex-serviceman still living in Britain to have served in both world wars.
He joined the Navy on his birthday in 1918 and served until 1945.

If he joined on his birthday in 1918 (end of September) then wouldn't he still have been in training when WW1 ended?

stabradop · 08-09-2008, 18:06

Originally Posted by Balleh

Originally Posted by theoriginalphantom

from the BBC

One of the last surviving British veterans of the First World War has been rushed to hospital.

William Stone, 107, served in the Royal Navy and was taken ill at his residential home in Wokingham, Berkshire, on Saturday.

He has been assessed by doctors at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and is said to be in a comfortable condition.

Mr Stone is one of only two ex-serviceman still living in Britain to have served in both world wars.
He joined the Navy on his birthday in 1918 and served until 1945.

If he joined on his birthday in 1918 (end of September) then wouldn't he still have been in training when WW1 ended?

He may have joined at 15 as a Boy Sailor/Junior Sailor. His service as that would not have counted towards his adult service which would have started at 18.

**jarrod248** · 08-09-2008, 18:13

I wish him a speedy recovery, he is living history.

**Werewolf** · 08-09-2008, 18:16

Originally Posted by jarrod248

I wish him a speedy recovery, he is living history.

Seconded.

**Archimedes** · 08-09-2008, 18:18

The local online rag says that he is 'comfortable and improving'.

Although he didn't see active service during the war, he met the eligibility criteria for at least one of 'Pip, Squeak and Wilfred' - forget which one off the top of my head. Don't forget that the war officially lasted until the signature of the Versailles treaty in 1919. Anyway, given what he got up to between arriving on his first ship and leaving the RN, I don't think I'd quibble with the description of his having served his country in both wars.

You can read a potted autobiography at http://hmshood.com/crew/biography/wfstone_bio.htm

(Edit: note the line "Now in my second century, I am having the time of my life". you get the sense that he's probably not quite ready to leave us yet and is probably working out how to escape from the hospital as I type...)

**theoriginalphantom** · 17-09-2008, 16:44

Well it looks like the NHS couldn't finish him off

from BBC online today;

William Stone, 107, who served in the Royal Navy, was taken ill at his residential home in Wokingham, Berkshire, on 6 September.

A Royal Berkshire Hospital spokeswoman said he was doing well and should return home by the end of the week

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