DEATH OF FIRST WORLD WAR VETERAN BILL STONE

That this House is greatly saddened by news of the death at the age of 108 years of Bill Stone, one of Britain's remaining veterans of the First World War; recognises the contribution he made in service in both World Wars which included him being a crew member of many naval ships, in particular the battle cruiser HMS Tiger on which he witnessed the scuttling of the German fleet at Scapa Flow, HMS Hood, the minesweeper Salamander that played a valiant role in the evacuation of Dunkirk, and on HMS Newfoundland during its involvement in the Sicily landings of 1943 for which he was mentioned in despatches after helping to coax the vessel back to port after it was crippled by a U-boat torpedo; and believes such a man epitomises the spirit and gallantry of those who gave their all in such conflicts in the quest for the continued freedom of our nation and its citizens.