Major General Patrick Stone died at home on 5th October 2022 aged 83 after a long and valiant struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was a ‘child of Empire’ as his Father, a Royal Naval doctor retired to Kenya and became a doctor there.

He had married Patrick’s Mother while based in Shanghai and Patrick was the eldest of their three children all of whom were born in Nairobi. His African upbringing no doubt shaped his independent attitude, his practical hands- on approach to problems and his love of Africa.

Following the death of his Father in a road accident in 1946 the family returned home to live in Whittlesford in Cambridgeshire. After attending Christs Hospital school, Patrick intended to become a dentist but National Service intervened and in 1960 he was seconded to 6th Battalion Kings African Rifles based in Tanganyika. where he took part in the suppression of the Zanzibar Revolution in 1962.

This was at the time of the end of National Service and like many of his contemporaries he decided to ‘stay in’ and applied for and was granted a regular commission. He joined 1st East Anglian Regiment in Felixstowe where even as a newly joined subaltern he stood out from his peers and was recognised by them as someone who was going places. Inter alia he served in British Guyana and Aden before being appointed ADC to the Governor of Western Australia in 1965. While there he met and married Christine, the daughter of Ursula and Group Captain Len Trent VC.

On return to England Patrick was appointed Adjutant of 1 Royal Anglian after which he attended the RAF Staff College at Bracknell. Then followed the usual pattern of alternating regimental tours with staff appointments. He was a company commander in Celle and later 2IC 1st Battalion then based in Tidworth as the ACE Mobile Force Battalion. In 1978 he was promoted to command 2nd Battalion first in Gillingham and then Berlin. While in Berlin the Battalion was responsible for running one of the great army shows, the Berlin Tattoo. Bobby Robert’s circus was persuaded to join in and the highlight was a re-enactment of the Battle of Sabraon complete with elephants pulling cannons. Here he demonstrated another of his attributes, viz, his complete trust in those he considered competent. He decided what was to be done and then let people get on with it without interfering.

A senior staff appointment followed in HQ 1st Division in Verden before he was promoted Brigadier to command the Berlin Brigade. Subsequently promoted Major General his last appointment was Director Personnel Services in MOD London.

After 32 years’ service Patrick left the Army in 1990 and became director of Administration of Norton Rose, a prestigious City law firm in Bishopsgate. Shortly after his appointment, Norton Rose was badly damaged by the IRA bombings of Bishopsgate and the Baltic Exchange, which necessitated the whole firm having to be relocated rapidly to enable the lawyers to carry on and retain their clients. Thanks to Patrick’s diligence there was a rapid and smooth transition to new premises. He retired from Norton Rose in 1999.

Patrick was appointed Colonel of The Regiment in 1991 and during his six year tenure he not only steered The Regiment through some difficult times but was also the driving force behind the project to raise the money for and establish the Regimental Museum at Duxford. At the same time he became Chairman of the Regimental Trustees where his wise counsel saw the value of the regimental funds, especially the Benevolent Fund increase hugely in value. He never lost touch with The Regiment and many years later without his wisdom and tact it was doubtful whether the regimental history, ‘Aden to Afghanistan’ would ever have come to fruition.

East Africa was in his blood. As well as spending his boyhood and National Service there he and Christine honeymooned there on their way back from Australia and in retirement for several years each winter they spent several weeks on the Kenyan coast where they generously invited many of their friends to join them. In 1991 he was thrilled to become Patron of the Kings African Rifles Association, an appointment which gave him great pleasure and which he enjoyed immensely. He remained Patron until shortly before his death.

As well as being an outstanding soldier Patrick was very much a family man. He was a devoted, loving and loyal husband to Christine who in turn nobly supported him throughout their married life, They have three children, Edward, born in 1969, Robert in 1972 and Celia in 1974. They were wonderful hosts who had the knack of making everyone feel completely relaxed and at home. About the time Patrick left the Army they moved to an old farm house just outside Hempnall, a few miles South of Norwich where they lived for 30 happy years before Patrick’s illness forced them to move into the village and a more suitable home. It was typical of him that during his gradual decline he never complained about his illness; he took each day as it came and remained the same delightful, charming, inquisitive and teasing person he had always been.
In his spare time old cars were his great passion and he had a string of what today would be termed classic cars. At the time of his death his pride and joy was a 1924 Bull Nosed Morris.

In recognition of his service Patrick was awarded the MBE in 1976, advanced to OBE in 1981 and again to CBE in 1984. He was made CB in 1992.

As a soldier one of Patrick’s great qualities was his absolute straightness and willingness to give a forthright opinion. He didn’t mince his words, but in expressing his views was never unkind or judgemental about his fellows. He had a gleeful sense of humour which he often hid but which occasionally he could not contain – at which point he would burst into laughter. He was always good company, a good listener and an astute assessor of others’ abilities. It was very hard to surprise him; he had a natural authority and understanding of what needed doing and how to communicate that to all concerned. He was cheerful, efficient., imaginative and the complete team player. His attention was always on what was best for the soldiers. They knew that and as a result they greatly respected him. He was also a hard-working, generous and supportive husband and father. He is survived by his wife and three children.

The Regiment has reason to be deeply grateful to him.

KW

Based on the eulogy given at General Stone’s funeral by Col RJ Abbott MBE