Walter Napleton Stone, born on December 7, 1891, served as a lieutenant and later as acting captain in the 3rd Battalion Royal Fusiliers during World War I. He posthumously received the Victoria Cross for his heroic actions at Bourlon Wood on November 30, 1917, where he provided critical intelligence under heavy fire before being killed in action. His body was never found, and he is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial and at his family plot in Greenwich Cemetery.

1. Rank: Lieutenant (Acting Captain)
Date of Birth: 7th December 1891
Battalion: 3rd Battalion
Early Life
Walter Napleton Stone was born on 7th December 1891 to Edward and Emily Frances Stone in Blackheath, South
London. His father was a solicitor and Walter was his tenth son. He was educated at Harrow School and Pembroke
College, Cambridge but did not complete his studies as he left for Canada on the SS Lusitania on the 27th April
1912 to study Land Surveying. He met Maud Mabel Jukes and they had a son Reginald who was born on the 21st
May 1914.
Walter returned to Great Britain enlisting with the Inns of Court Officer Training Corp before entering the Royal
Military College, Camberley prior to being commissioned into the 3rd Battalion Royal Fusiliers on the 12th May
1915. On the 5th January 1916 he was attached to the 17th (Empire) Battalion Royal Fusiliers.
Military Life
Walter received a posthumous VC for his actions at Bourlon Wood during the Battle of Cambrai. He was gazetted
in the London Gazette on the 12th February 1918. The citation reads:
“On 30th November, 1917, whilst in command of a company in an isolated position, 1000 yards to the front of the
main line and overlooking the enemy in a position in the Cambrai sector, in France, he observed the enemy
preparing for an attack and sent back information to headquarters to this effect. He was ordered to withdraw his
company leaving a rearguard as cover. As the enemy attack gathered unexpected momentum, Captain Stone sent
back three platoons, staying with the rearguard himself. Standing on the parapet with a telephone, all the time
under heavy bombardment, he observed the enemy, sending back valuable information on the situation until the
wire was cut on his orders. The rearguard was surrounded by the enemy and cut to pieces. Captain Stone was shot
through the head as he fought to the last. The accuracy of the information he supplied was invaluable, causing
the line to be saved, thus averting a disaster.”
Walter Napleton Stone VC

2. At the time of his death Walter was 25 years of age.
On the 2nd October 1918 Walter’s brother Lt. Col. Arthur Stone DSO of the 16th Lancashire Fusiliers was also killed in action.
Walter’s body was never found and he is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial to the Missing and at the family plot in Greenwich Cemetery.
It is possible that Walter never married Maud Jukes although the latter did marry an Eric Oliver Gurney originally from England but living in Detroit,
Michigan. He may have adopted Reginald who has signed letters to the museum as Eric O. Gurney (nee Reginald Stone).
The current whereabouts of the V.C. are currently unknown.