One of Britain’s last veterans of the First World War was described yesterday as an “inspiration” as hundreds of people gathered to honour him at his funeral.

William “Bill” Stone, who was the only remaining UK-based veteran to serve during both World Wars, died at his nursing home near Wokingham, Berkshire, aged 108.

His family, friends and scores of military personnel from past and present paid their final respects at the packed service at the rural St Leonard’s Church in Watlington, the Oxfordshire town where he lived for 20 years. Mr Stone, a former chief stoker in the Royal Navy, took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940 on the minesweeper HMS Salamander.

Bearing the Union flag-draped coffin into the church yesterday were six Royal Navy stokers in full uniform.

Following behind, Leading Logistician Jon Ryder, who pushed Mr Stone’s wheelchair at the 90th anniversary of the Great War Armistice at the Cenotaph last November, carried his many medals on a cushion. Also among them was Jack Cousins (84) who served with Mr Stone for six months.

He said: “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. I am proud to have known him and served with him.”

The Reverend Christopher Idris Evans, who conducted the service, described Mr Stone as a “part of the living history of our country” and very much a part of the local community.\[Stephen Alexander\]

During the first hymn, Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven, Mr Stone’s great-grandchildren, Sophie Davidson and Annabel Powell - both aged two - laid flowers on his coffin.

Mr Stone’s son-in-law, Michael Davidson, led the tributes during the service, charting his career in the Navy through to his later years.

He said Mr Stone became a well-known figure, attending parties at Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and 10 Downing Street, which he took to "like a duck to water".

The church erupted into laughter when he recalled how on one occasion the Queen asked Mr Stone how he was feeling, to which he cheekily replied "with both hands".

Mr Davidson said: "She was bemused. But at 100-plus you can get away with almost anything."

He said his father-in-law’s "drive and determination" had added to his quality of life and longevity.

He added: "If I had to use one word to describe him it would be ’cheerfulness’.

"He enjoyed life to the full with a constant smile on his face. His recipe for life was clean living, a contented mind and trust in God."

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After the coffin was carried out of the church to the tune of Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye, a Royal Marines bugler sounded the Last Post and Reveille.

The church bell then tolled 108 times, one for each year of Mr Stone’s life.

Following the funeral, a shrub was planted and a plaque dedicated to Mr Stone’s memory in the grounds of the church before a private service at a crematorium.

Mr Stone’s daughter, Anne Davidson, said: "It was wonderful to see so many of William’s old friends from both Watlington, where he lived for 20 years, and from all the organisations to which he belonged.

"William would have been truly delighted. He had an amazingly long and happy life."

Commodore Al Rymer, of the Royal Navy, who represented the Ministry of Defence at the funeral, said: "I’m very honoured to represent the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Navy today in commemorating his remarkable life. His life is an inspiration to us all."

Veterans Minister Kevan Jones also paid tribute, describing Mr Stone as a "truly remarkable individual who served this country with such distinction during two World Wars to protect our liberty".

Other attendees at the funeral included Vice Admiral Sir Barry Wilson KCB, who read the Pilot’s Psalm at the service, which he finished by saying "God bless our shipmate, Bill."

Last year Mr Stone astounded doctors by recovering from ill health in time to celebrate his 108th birthday and take part in memorial commemorations.

He was born the 10th of 14 children in Kingsbridge, Devon, on September 23 1900, yet he was still rattling a tin for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal as recently as five years ago.

Mr Stone travelled to Cape Town, Tasmania, Jakarta, Newfoundland, Buenos Aires and Malta during a career which saw him work as a barrow boy, steam engine driver, barber, tobacconist and farm hand.

Within a year of joining the Navy at 18, he had joined the battlecruiser HMS Tiger, which took him to Scapa Flow, the home of the Navy’s Grand Fleet, before progressing to the battleship HMS Hood in 1922 to travel around the world "showing the flag" to the colonies.

During the Second World War, he made five trips to the beaches of Dunkirk on board HMS Salamander, went minesweeping to Arkhangel on Russia’s northern coast and supported the Allied landing in Sicily in 1943.

In 1938 he married Lily, a girl from his village, and the following year their daughter Anne was born.

They moved to Watlington in 1986 and regularly attended St Leonard’s Church together for 20 years. Mr Stone was confirmed there when he was 88.

Mrs Stone died in 1995, but her husband continued to live there in his own home until 2006, when he moved to the Berkshire care home.