Private George William Bone
Rank or Title
Date of Birth
8 Dec 1894
Date of Death
9 Apr 1918
War time / or Pre War occupation
Employer
Medals Awarded
Service Number
Place of Birth
World War I Address
Place of Death
Grave Location
War Memorial Location
Soldier or Civilian
- Soldier
Source
Pte George William Bone MM, 90015, 137th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, was killed in action in France on April 9th, 1918, along with fellow stretcher-bearer and Lutonian Pte Thomas Ralph Corney. They were carrying a wounded officer from the trenches when all three were killed by a shell. Pte Bone had earned the Military Medal in September 1917 after being wounded while carrying an injured man a distance of 350 yards under shell fire.
A comrade wrote to parents William and Alice Bone, of 50 Hastings Street, Luton, to say: "Your son and Ralph Corney were in the same party doing their duty as stretcher-bearers, and on April 10th and 11th they were reported missing. Today we received the official news that they were killed whilst carrying out their duty in the trenches, and so gave their lives to save others."
In a later letter the same writer said: "As far as we know, George and Ralph were both killed instantly when bringing in a wounded officer, who was also killed. All three were buried together in the cemetery at Bois Grenier."
Formerly a stoker at Luton Gas Works, George Bone had married Florence Maud Andrews at Christ Church, Luton, on September 14th, 1914, the day before enlisting in the Bedfordshire Regiment, from which he was discharged a month later. His address on enlisting was 88 Collingdon Street, but Florence was living at 51 Dumfries Street, Luton, at the time of his death. They had a daughter, Doris.
He subsequently joined the RAMC at the Grove Road depot in Luton and saw service in Egypt. He was invalided home from there suffering from enteric fever and, on recovery, was sent to France.
Individual Location
Author: Deejaya
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