Charles Edwin Stone
A grave I spotted in our towns cemetery some years ago whilst walking the dog. The VC on it immediately spiked my interest and I googled him whilst stood there. Thought i’d share.
Charles was born in the town of Ripley in Derbyshire.[1] When he was 29 years old, and a gunner in the ‘C’ Battery 83rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, British Army during the First World War, the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 21 March 1918 at Caponne Farm, France, after working at his gun for six hours under heavy gas and shell fire, Gunner Stone was sent back to the rear with an order. He delivered it and then, under a very heavy barrage, returned with a rifle to assist in holding up the enemy on a sunken road. First lying in the open under very heavy machine-gun fire and then on the right flank of the two rear guns he held the enemy at bay. Later he was one of the party which captured a machine-gun and four prisoners.[2]
He later achieved the rank of Bombardier. His brother Ernest was killed in 1917.[3] Stone is buried in Belperin Derbyshire[1]