First World War veterans Harry Patch, left, and Bill Stone, who has died

One of Britain’s last veterans of the First World War has died at the age of 108.

Bill Stone, who was the only remaining British-based veteran to serve during both World War One and Two, died at his nursing home near Wokingham, Berkshire. Mr Stone leaves behind fellow World War One veterans Henry Allingham, the country’s oldest man at 112.

Former Telford man 110-year-old Harry Patch is Britain’s last surviving Great War Tommy who served in the trenches.

The veterans came together on November 11 to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of World War One, when Mr Patch laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in London. 

Family members and friends described Mr Stone as “remarkable”. 

Anne Davidson, Mr Stone’s daughter, was with him when he died on Sunday afternoon.

“He was a very determined character both in his Naval career and in civilian life and, no doubt, this contributed greatly to his longevity,” she said. 

“His motto was ‘keep going’.”

Dennis Goodwin, secretary of the World War One Veterans’ Association, said Mr Stone had died after battling chest problems.

Mr Stone took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940 on the minesweeper HMS Salamander. 

Last year he astounded doctors by recovering to celebrate his 108th birthday. 

Mr Stone was born the 10th of 14 children in Kingsbridge, Devon, at the turn of the last century, yet he was still rattling a tin for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal five years ago. 

He said in recent years: “I’ve had a wonderful life.”

By Lisa Rowley