Bone, John Stanley 124814 (1899 - 1918)

Lance Corporal, 17th Bn. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)

Buried at St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen

Commemorated at Hillhead High School

Lance Corporal Stanley Bone was the only son of Mr and Mrs Robert Bone, 11 Balmoral Garden, Monkseaton, Northumberland. His school career was rather remarkable. He had no capacity for book knowledge or abstract reasoning; all his talents lay along the lines of action and practical work. In all his classes he was the natural leader. He did not bully or hustle, and teachers sometimes wondered what exactly was the secret of his power. I think it lay in this. He ruled all because he served all. When anything had to be done Stanley did it. When anyone required help Stanley was there to give it. He was an ardent Cadet and Scout, and took a leading part in all School games. On leaving school he entered the employment of Messrs. W. S. Miller & Co., shipbrokers, where he gave promise of becoming shrewd and alert man of business. When sixteen years of age he tried to enlist, but his youth was too obvious even to the most willingly gullible of recruiting sergeants. Later he joined the Glasgow University O.T.C., but proceeded to France as a private in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Big, strapping, powerful, he was a striking figure in his Highland dress. His career in France was brief. After a short period in the trenches he was sent to the Base Hospital suffering from some form of blood poisoning. The pneumonia supervened, and on 18th June 1918, the gallant Stanley passed away. His own wish doubtless would have been to fall at the head of his section in one wild dash upon the enemy, but Dis aliter visum. His platoon commander, writing home, said--"He was a good soldier in the best sense of the term, and when he joined the section I soon found his sterling qualities and made him an N.C.O. In fact, he created a record by becoming one so quickly. I also spoke to him about sending him home for a commission after a little more experience in the line." His old Schoolfellows will not readily forget this gallant soldier and kindly, considerate, cheerful comrade.