Papers of Stone and Byard Families of Belper, chiefly 20th cent.

This collection comprises chiefly the papers of two generations of a family spanning both World Wars.

Papers of Charles Edwin Stone, and Ernest Stone D5398/1

Papers of Joshua and Edith Byard D5398/2

Service Papers of Frank Byard D5398/3

Letters Home - Frank Byard to his wife, Marjorie D5398/4

Civilian Papers of Frank Byard D5398/5

Papers of Marjorie Byard D5398/6

Papers of Horace Vincent Sowter D5398/7

• <persname>Stone, Charles Edwin, d 1952, soldier, of Belper</persname>
• <persname>Byard, Frank, fl 1943-1946, soldier, of Belper</persname><famname>Stone family of Belper, Derbyshire</famname>
• <famname>Byard family of Belper, Derbyshire</famname>

These items were donated by a private individual in January 2001.

The Stones and the Byards were connected by marriage, when Joshua Byard wed Edith Stone. Charles Edwin Stone is recorded as being Frank Byard's uncle.

Charles Edwin Stone (d.1952) was awarded the Victoria Cross in Mar 1918 for 'most conspicuous bravery, initiative, and devotion to duty' on the Poelcappelle Road, Ypres. After working at his gun for six hours under heavy fire, he was sent back to the rear section with an order. Having delivered the order, he returned to the front position to assist in holding up the enemy. Under very heavy machine gun fire, he 'calmly and effectively shot the enemy until ordered to retire.' He then took up a position on the right flank of the two rear guns and held the enemy at bay. 'During this period one of the enemy managed to break through, and, regardless of machine-gun fire raging at the time, Gunner Stone rushed after him and killed him, thereby saving the flank of the guns. Later, he was one of the party which captured the machine-gun and four of the enemy, who in the dusk, had got round to the rear of the gun position.

This most gallant act undoubtedly saved the detachment serving the guns.'

His brother, A. Ernest Stone, was killed in action in 1917.