William Thomas Bones
1898 - 1967

Unlike his brothers William never joined St Johns Ambulance, he spent the early part of
the 1914-1918 War, working
at the Uplees Munitions Factory, near Faversham Kent.

There was a huge explosion there on 2nd April 1916,
William was one of the Lucky Ones, to escape uninjured.

William was conscripted for military service in 1917.

He joined the Royal Garrison Artillery, where he trained as a Signalman
and was based in Gosport Hampshire. He remained there
for the duration of the war, although he was put on embarkation leave a couple of times,
there was something to do with his birth date, which prevented him from being sent to France.

In 1942 William was called up for service in the Home Guard in Minster Kent, even though he was a farm worker.
His 'Drill Hall' was an old Primitive Methodist Hall in Minster.

He referred to his service in both wars as, "Britain's Last Hope" and never claimed any medals.