STONE, John Herbert

John was the son of Harry and Clara Stone of Bundarra Road, Gilgai near Inverell.  His birth was registered at Inverell in 1896.  At the age of 19 he enlisted at Inverell, with his Mother giving her permission for him to serve overseas.  He left Inverell with a group of 18 other recruits on 1 February 1916 and went into camp at Narrabri.

He became a member of the 33rd Battalion 1st Reinforcement and sailed from Australia on HMAT A74 Marathon in May 1916.  After nine weeks at sea he arrived in England where further training was undertaken until he was sent to France in September.  About this time he was transferred to the 53 Battalion.  John was Killed in Action on 18 May 1917 at Bullecourt, France. He has no known grave and his name is recorded on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France. 

Private Stone’s name is inscribed on the Gilgai and Inverell Honor Rolls and the Inverell Cenotaph.  He was one of the 215 men for whom a memorial tree was planted in Kurrajong Parade in 1919.