STONE, James William


No.17869, Private, James William STONE
Aged 25


11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Wednesday, 2nd August 1916



James William Stone was born in 1890 in West Row (Mildenhall Q2-1890 4A:713), son of George and Emma STONE (née RUTTERFORD).


1891 census...Aged 1, he was at main Street, West Row with his father George STONES [32] farm labourer; his mother Emma [32] born Beck Row; sisters Edith [10], Rachel [6] and Emma [3]. All except his mother were born in Mildenhall (West Row).

1901 census...Aged 11, he was at Main Street, West Row with his parents and sisters Emma and Kate[2]. His brother Arthur [7] was at The Green, West Row with his uncle Arthur STONE [38] horseman on farm born Mildenhall, sister Kate and grandmother Sarah STONE [79]. The rest of the family were at Main Street, West Row, his father George STONE [42], mother Emma [42]; sisters Emma [13] and Annie [2] and brother James [11], all born in Mildenhall.

In 1910 he married Nellie Ada Catherine BELL [11-2-1892].

1911 census...Aged 21, a yardman, he was with his wife Nellie [19] born Blo Norton and daughter Edith Nellie Stone BELL [10-2-1911] born West Row, at West Row with Nellie's parents. That family was George BELL [41] a warrener born Blo Norton Norfolk, Fanny [40] born West Row, their sons David [17] a shepherd born in Blo Norton, Sidney [12] born in Knettishall, and James [3] born in West Row, and daughters Cissie [5] born West Row and Phyllis [1] born West Row.
At Main Street West Row were his parents, brother Arthur, sister Kate and sister Annie. Two of the 9 children had died.

James and Nellie also had a son, Arthur George STONE (2-2-1913-1992)

On his pension card Nellie and their children were at 39 Woodditton, which would explain his name on the war memorial there.

His younger brother Arthur was killed at Croix du Bac in 1918, see here




Enlisted in Newmarket.
From the war diary:-
The battalion were in the INTERMEDIATE LINE to the left of HIGH WOOD on night 1st/2nd August with bombing sorties being carried out during the night. 2nd Aug:- Enemy artillery active during the day.
9:20 pm "D" Coy under Captain HENDRY made a bombing attack along the top of its trench to the LEFT. This resulted in the capture of about 150 yds of GERMAN TRENCH. Owing to the casualties amongst our bombers we were unable to hold the full length of the trench and were forced to withdraw from about 30 yrds, leaving about 120 yds in our possession. A bombing post and barricade was erected and the enemy held back.
Captain HENDRY was severely wounded in the attack, 2nd Lt SMITH was wounded by shrapnel about dawn 2nd/3rd. Our casualties in the attack and subsequent bombardment were, in addition to above, 5 OR killed, 25 wounded.


CWGC have a known grave for only one of the dead.

The Bury Free Press of 2nd September 1916 reported :-
WEST ROW SOLDIER KILLED

The accompanying portrait is that of James William Stone, 11th Suffolk Regiment, of West Row, who was killed in action on August 2nd last. Deceased enlisted about two years ago, and in due course proceeded to France. He was wounded in the fighting of February of this year. The gallant soldier rejoined his regiment on the 12th June, and as stated above, he was killed on August 2nd, about 2 months resumed fighting. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved parents of the deceased soldier.



Battalion HQ 1st/2nd August 1916


James Stone is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, pier and face 1C/2A
and the war memorials at Mildenhall and Woodditton.

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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