Sgt A E Stone and Bdr C E Stone VC MM

Memorial
Title

Images

Locations

Last known location:
Belper Cemetery
Matlock Rd (A6)
Broadholm
Belper
Derbyshire

Nearest postcode:
DE56 2JE

NGR:
SK 35167 49059
±5m

Location details:
East of the chapel, up the hill, near the junction of two paths.

Type

Overall type: Addition to gravestone.

Overall condition: Good. The inscription is legible.

Description:

An addition to white marble kerbstones on a family grave. The kerbstones have a chamfer on the outer face and bear the inscriptions in upright capital lettering, originally inlaid but subsequently replaced by incised lettering infilled in black. The grave also bears a recumbent stone tablet and a square white marble vase with further inscriptions.

Components:

Component	Material	Height	Width	Depth	Condition
Kerbs	White marble	200	915	2140	Good
Tablet	Stone	c300	c200	c30	Good
Vase	White marble	195	195	180	Good
Dimensions in millimetres ±5mm unless stated otherwise.

Inscription

South kerb:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

North kerb:

MARY ELLEN STONE. MAY 21. 1906.

East kerb:

SGT. ALBERT ERNEST STONE KILLED IN ACTION APR. 4. 1917, AGED 20 YEARS.

West kerb:

CHARLES EDWIN STONE. V.C.. M.M.. AT REST AUG. 29. 1952, AGED 63 YEARS.

Tablet:

ON 21 MARCH 1918 AT CAPONNE FARM FRANCE,
AFTER WORKING AT HIS GUN FOR 6 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 BY LYING IN THE OPEN
UNDER VERY HEAVY MACHINE GUN-FIRE AND
THEN ON THE RIGHT FLANK OF THE 2 REAR GUNS
HE HELD THE ENEMY AT BAY. LATER HE WAS
ONE OF THE PARTY WHICH CAPTURED A
MACHINE-GUN AND 4 PRISONERS.

Vase:

TO A
DEAR
MOTHER
& BROTHERS

Conflicts and people commemorated

Conflict	First World War (1914-1919)
Number died	1
Number served and returned	1
Total names	2

Administration

Custodians: Presumed to be the Stone family or their descendants. The cemetery is managed by Amber Valley Borough Council.

Local Authorities:
From WW1: Belper Parish Council; Belper Urban District Council; Derbyshire County Council.
From 1974: Belper Town Council; Amber Valley Borough Council; Derbyshire County Council.

History

December, 2001: The memorial lies within the Buffer Zone of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site inscribed on that date..

23rd June, 2003: The cemetery was Listed by English Heritage on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.

10th January, 2014: The memorial was surveyed by Roy Branson and Alan Willmot.

Spring, 2014: The memorial was refurbished, a new tablet added and the vase replaced.

2nd August, 2014: At a special ceremony the grave was rededicated by The Ven J Blackburn CB QHC FRSA BA BSc, former Chaplain General to the Army; a reading was by Mr Bernard Page, County Chairman of the Royal British Legion and the Citation was read by Capt T Williams RA. The ceremony was recorded by Roy Branson..

References

Ripley and Heanor News carried an article on 16th September, 2013 which was posted on their website

Derby Telegraph; 29th July, 2014; p8 col2: An announcement for the forthcoming rededication service with some biographical information.

Order of Service, 2nd August, 2014.

Derby Telegraph; 4th August, 2014; p4 col2: An account of the rededication service with photographs and some biographical information.

Comments

Sjt A E Stone is buried in Vadencourt British Cemetery, Maissemy, France.

C E Stone was a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery when he was awarded the VC but subsequently achieved the rank of Bombardier. He is buried in this grave.