Stone | John
Biography
John Stone was killed on 14th October 1944 at Overloon. He was aged 25 and a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment (Service No. 4804695). He was initially buried in the De Kleffen Cemetery at Overloon and later transferred to the current Overloon War Graves Commission Cemetery.
John Stone was born on 31st July 1919 to John and Hannah Elizabeth Stone (nee Rushton) at Cauldon Lowe in the Parish of Cotton near Leek and Stoke on Trent in Staffordshire. John’s parents were born in the same parish on 24th May 1889 and 13th April 1891 respectively and had married in 1911. They had 9 children as follows, all in the same parish: Annie 1911, Alice 1914, Hetty 1916, John 1919, Norman 1923, Joyce 1925, Cyril 1928, Margaret B 1932 and Sheila 1937. Cyril died in 1932 aged just 3.
By 1921 the family including Annie, Alice, Hetty and John were living at 7, New Houses Cauldon Lowe. John’s father was described as a Limestone Quarryman working for the North Staffordshire Railway Company which owned the quarries at Cauldon Lowe. A number of small limestone quarries existed in this area in the early 18th century. However, extraction was made far easier by the creation of the Cauldon Canal in 1778. Increasing demand and output of limestone saw three separate housing schemes for quarry workers from 1832 to 1903 resulting in 52 houses all together. The first of these in 1832 was Newhouses – consisting of 12 back-to-back houses. In 1905 a new quarry face was opened. Limestone demand was so great in 1917 that quarrymen serving in the Army could return to the quarries. The Great Depression saw a rundown of quarrying activity with two original quarries closing in 1931. Italian and German prisoners of war were used in the quarries during WW2. The quarries continue today as well as a more recent cement works.
By 1939, John and Hannah were still living at 7, New Houses, Cauldon Lowe. John was described as a Limestone Quarrier Loader. Their son, John, was 18 and described as a Silica Works Labourer. His sister, Margaret B Stone, born 15th August 1932, was also present as were two other unnamed children who are likely to have been either Norman born 1923 or Joyce born 1925 as well as Sheila born 1937. Annie, Alice and Hetty had all married and were living in nearby towns and villages.
A newspaper article in a local paper which reported on John’s death gave an insight into his life as follows:
“He was educated at Cauldon Lowe C.E. [Church of England] School and upon leaving school became a regular member of the Old Scholar’s Club. He was employed by Captain Unwin, V.C., at the Tallymoor Silica Works, remaining there until he joined the army in December 1939. All his army training had been done in England, and on June 6th he went with the invasion forces to France. He was a good all round sportsman and easily found a place in the local football team (Cauldon Lowe F.C.) in the Leek and Moorland League. Of a genial disposition, he was very popular with workmates, team mates and army pals and his many friends in the district feel deep regret at his passing. His parents have received many messages of sympathy, since the tragic news became known.”
The same article indicates that he was a qualified signaller but at the time of his death was serving with the infantry. This may imply that he was initially in the Royal Corps of Signals but then transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment at some point. The battalion took part in the D-Day landings in June 1944. The battalion was then engaged throughout the Normandy Campaign, taking part in Operation Charnwood, Operation Goodwood, and throughout the rest of the Northwest Europe Campaign until Victory in Europe Day in May 1945.
On 19th August, John wrote the following letter to his married sister Alice, seemingly from somewhere in France which is rather poignant given his death just 2 months later:
“Dear Alice
I’m writing a few lines hoping they find you all in the best of health, as for myself, I’m feeling fine. I’m unable to write to you as often as I should like to, owing to the fact I have so many letters to write, I can’t keep up with it, and as you know I’ve got to write home every few days, or they are bound to think the worst has happened. I hope they let you know from home, how I’m going on, anyway there is no need to worry for I think we have now got the worst over. As you will see by the wireless and papers, we have got them on the run. We have given up the chase for the time being. It’s too hot to keep it up for long. We are now taking it easy, sleeping on spring beds. The food is good, better off in fact than we were in England. It’s a horrible war, but I think so far we have had more laughs than otherwise.
They grumble in England but if they had seen what we have seen the last day or two, they would think how selfish they are. The civilians are coming back dragging what few belongings they had managed to get together before having to leave, streams of them, with horse and cart, bikes, wheelbarrows, cows on ropes, little children dirty and hungry, and perhaps they find their house knocked down, in any case the Jerries have taken everything of value. You can’t have any idea, and I’m sure in England they just wouldn’t stand for it. I’m hoping that next time I write, will be either in Paris or beyond, but my biggest hope is, I won’t have to write many more letters from here at all. At this rate we shall all be back home soon, with the luck we’ve had so far.
I shall write to Hetty next, so I shall have to close for now,
Love to you all, John, xxxxxx xxxxxx”
It is known from this letter that John was in D Company of the Regiment which was led by Major Edward Dawson.
On 9th October 1944 the Battalion found itself in Haps, just south of Nijmegen in the Netherlands and North of Overloon. It was to take part in Operation Aintree in the coming days with the aim of taking Overloon to the south and then Venray before finally eliminating a German bridgehead on the River Maas near Venlo. They were ordered to move south to St Anthonis on the 11th, but this was postponed to the 12th due to bad weather. The move was completed on the 12th and they then moved slightly further west on the 13th, though with one man killed and 3 wounded.
On the 14th, the day on which John died, the plan was for B Company to be guided through a wood held by the Royal Ulster Rifles to its front edge from where they would carry out a recce to check if a stream was passable and if the north eastern corner of a wood to the south was held by the enemy. However, the guides were late and the move through the wood was slower than expected, so the recce did not take place. At 7.30am the Company began to advance south out of the wood. However, before the Company had advanced 100yds the enemy opened fire from a track about another 100 yds ahead. The advance continued but came under such heavy fire with so many casualties that the Company Commander issued an order to retreat back to the Royal Ulster Rifles’ position. By this point one Lieutenant and 34 other ranks had been killed or wounded. Following a recce by the Company Commanders, it was decided to launch an attack at 1530 hours with D and A companies in the lead. The enemy had been seen moving in the area of the stream in front of the wood. It was thought that the enemy holding the Battalion objective were probably a Company strong. Immediately the attacking force came into the open they were subjected to intense artillery and mortar fire but they pressed steadily on to reach their objective. During this action the Battalion suffered very heavy casualties including four officers killed and another four wounded. One of the officers who was killed was Major Dawson who was commanding “D” Company.
John’s parents were initially informed of his death by a letter they received from one of his friends, Private I Spridgens. It reads as follows:
“Dear Mr & Mrs Stone
This is to tell you that John has been killed in action. It was his wish that I should tell you at the earliest possible moment if anything should happen to him, knowing the length of time it takes for information to come through official sources.
He was out with the Major Commanding D Company on Saturday afternoon the 14th Oct. when a shell must have landed almost between them, both were killed.
May I offer my deepest sympathy. Not only was he my best pal; the best mate I’ve ever had, but he was extremely popular throughout the battalion.
I must close now if you will excuse me,
Remaining
Sincerely yours
I Spridgens”
John’s family understand that he was due to take some leave not many days after he was killed. The War Diaries certainly show that the Regiment had a much quieter time of it for the rest of October.
The newspaper article announcing his death also mentioned that his younger brother, Norman, was serving with the Fleet Air Arm. Norman survived the war and went on to have a family of his own.
Another newspaper article gave details of a memorial service held for him on 12th November, 1944:
“Cauldon Lowe: A memorial Service was held in the Parish Church on Sunday afternoon for Private John Stone, of Newhouses, Cauldon Lowe, who was killed in action in North-west Europe in October. The high esteem in which Private Stone was held was signified by the large congregation of the Waterhouses branch of the British Legion, workmates, school friends, and neighbours. The service which was conducted by the Vicar (Rev. J. Beresford Smith), included the deceased’s favourite hymns, Mrs Thacker being at the organ. In the course of his address the Vicar expressed sympathy with the bereaved family, and voiced the hope that after hostilities had ceased the country would remain strong and well armed, so that the recurrence of aggression cold be prevented.”
John’s youngest sister Sheila who was only 7 when he died remembers being asked to wear a black diamond brooch in memory of him after his parents heard of his death.
John Stone Senior died in the parish in 1952 aged 63 while Hannah died there in 1970 aged 79.
In 2014 a war memorial was erected in Cauldon Lowe which commemorates John and other men who died in both World Wars.
