Researching Charles Stone

Charles was born in the town of Ripley in Derbyshire. 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.

He later achieved the rank of Bombardier. His brother Ernest was killed in 1917. Stone is buried in Belper in Derbyshire

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich, England.

Stone was reportedly the first volunteer to enter the Union Army, and during the war he served as a general officer, noted for his involvement at the Battle of Ball's Bluff in October 1861. Held responsible for the Union defeat, Stone was arrested and imprisoned for almost six months, mostly for political reasons. He never received a trial, and after his release he would not hold a significant command during the war again. Stone later served again with distinction as a general in the Egyptian Army, and is also noted for his role in constructing the base of the Statue of Liberty.

Stone was educated at the City of London School and was admitted a solicitor in 1872. He was elected an alderman of Greenwich in 1900 and served as mayor in 1903–1904, 1906–1907, 1911–1912, and 1915–1920. For these services he was knighted in the 1920 New Year Honours.

In 1882, he married Alice Elizabeth Hart, daughter of Edward Hart. He died at his home in Blackheath.