Name
Frederick George Stone
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/06/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
44946
Royal Irish Rifles
13th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POND FARM CEMETERY
Row O, Grave 9.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Beechen Grove Baptist Church Memorial, Watford, Not on the Croxley Green memorials
Pre War
Son of George and Phoebe Helena (nee PUDDIFOOT) STONE of Watford.
His parents married 1886 in the Amersham, Bucks, district. Phoebe died 1931 in Watford aged 69, and was buried 4 May in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
Frederick was born on the 2nd of December 1897 in Croxley Green the son of George and Phoebe Helena (nee Puddifoot) Stone. George was a Wheelwright and in 1901 he and Phoebe with their three children were living 136 Queen’s Road, Watford.
Frederick attended Victoria Junior School and then, from 8 January 1907 to 3rd of May 1912, Beechen Grove Board School.
In 1911 they were at 1 Sutton Road, Watford.
Wartime Service
Enlisted in Whitehall, London.
The 13th Battalion was formed in September 1914 in County Down from the Down Volunteers. They landed Boulogne in October 1915 and concentrated around Flexelles. After some months of training the Battalion took over a section of the front line between the river Ancre and the Mailly – Maillet to Serre road. At the Battle of Albert (1st to 13th July 1916) the Battalion took such heavy casualties that it took the rest of the year to rebuild. Although the circumstances of Frederick’s death have not yet been traced he is assumed to have been killed during the build up to the Battle of Messines (7 th to 14th June 1917) during which 36th Division captured Wytschnate.
He enlisted in Whitehall, London, and was formerly Private 5474 18th (County of London) Battalion London Regiment (London Irish Rifles).
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Frederick’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. There is a Death announcement for Frederick in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 9 June 1917; plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 8 June 1918 and 7 June 1919.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Mike Collins
