In South Shields (Harton) Cemetery is a headstone which reads:

In loving memory of

Elizabeth,
the beloved wife of John Bone,
who died July 22nd 1914,
in her 72nd year.

Also of the above
John Bone,
who died May 16th 1933,
in his 92nd year.

Also of
Major Harry Bone M.C. (R.A.V.C.)
youngest son of the above
who died at Gullane December 5th 1948
aged 66 years.

Also of
Major Thomas Bone O.B.E. (R.A.V.C.)
son of the above
and dear husband of Elsie
who died at Ringwood June 5th 1951
aged 71 years.

“At rest”.

In 1924 Major Bone was Acting Director of Director of Sudan Veterinary Services for the Egyptian Army.

Harry Bone was born the youngest of four children, on the 10th January 1882, baptised 9th March 1882, at West Street Chapel, South Shields, to John Bone Snr., born 1842, died 16th May 1933, and his wife Elizabeth Bone nee Purvis, born 1843, died 22nd July 1914 They were married in.

The other children were: –

• John Bone Snr., born 14th November 1868, baptised 6th December 1868. He married Jane Hetherington Reed in 1902, in Tynemouth Northumberland. In 1921, John and Jane Bone were residing, with their two children, John Bone, born 1906, died 6th July 1945 and Jane Hetherington Bone, born 1907, at 39 Trajan Avenue, South Shields, and John was a River Tyne Pilot. John Bone snr had obtained his Master certificate on 11th April 1896, at South Shields. Janet H. Bone, of 39 Trajan Avenue, died 17th November 1934, at 1a Clayton Riad, Newcastle upon Tyne. John Bone Snr., died, aged 97, on 23rd January 1966, in South Shields.
• Elizabeth Bone, born 2nd September 1876, baptised 21st January 1877, died 1949. She married Herbert Percival Friend, born 2nd March 1874, died 1940, in 1900, in South Shields. In 1921, Elizabeth and Herbert were residing, with their two children, John Frederick Coop Friend, born 1901, and Eleanor Mary Friend, born 1904, plus a servant, Ada Marchant, born 1898, at 5, Highbury, Newcastle upon Tyne. Herbert was a Dentist, working at 62, Jesmond Road, Newcastle upon Tyne. Herbert had been registered as a dentist on the 30th November 1896, at Barnard Castle. In 1939, Herbert and Elizabeth were at Lane End, Hexham, Northumberland, and Herbert was Regional Dental Officer for the Ministry of Health.
• Thomas Bone, born 29th December 1879, baptised 19th February 1880, at West Street Chapel, South Shields, died 1951. Thomas Bone married Elsie Norah Foote, born 10th October 1891, on the 16th December 1910, died 1957, in Bombay, India. In 1881, Thomas Bone was residing with his parents, John and Elizabeth Bone, at 10 Lawe Cottages, Westoe, South Shields, and his father was a Pilot. Elsie Norah Foote was born at St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands, to George W. Foote and Annie [nee Orchard], and was the eldest of four daughters. In 1901, Elsie’s family were residing in Meadow Grove, St Peter Port, Guernsey, and her father was a Veterinary Surgeon. In 1939, Thomas and Elsie Bone were residing, with five redacted records, at a Caravan at Ringford, at Arm Bank, Hampshire, and Thomas was retired from the Royal Army Veterinary Corps and the Colonial Veterinary Service.

In 1891, Harry Bone was residing with his parents, John and Elizabeth Bone, at 10 Lawe Cottages, Westoe, South Shields, and his father was a Pilot. At this time, Henry was the youngest of four children. Also at the home was Alice Nicholson, born 1872.

In 1901, Harry was a Architect’s student which did not last as he graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London, with a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (B Vet Med). He was admitted to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons on the 21st December 1906.

Harry was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Army Veterinary Corps on the 13th February 1907. He served overseas in South Africa at various locations from the 1st February 1908 to the 7th February 1913.

In 1911, Lieutenant H Bone was posted in the 10th and 11th Sections of the Army Veterinary Corps, he was actually in Potshefstroom. A further move followed in 1912 to the town of Harrismith.

Harry Bone was promoted to Captain on the 23rd May 1912. Arriving back in the UK, he went to France on the 18th August 1914.

War Office,
17th February, 1915.
The following despatch has been received by the Secretary of
State for War from the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief,
British Forces
in the Field: —
14th January, 1915.
MY LORD,—
In accordance with the last paragraph, of my Despatch of the 20th November, 1914, I have the honour to bring to notice names of those whom I recommend for gallant and distinguished service in the field.
I have the honour to be,
Your Lordship’s most obedient Servant,
J. D. P. FRENCH,
Field-Marshal, Commanding-in-chief,
The British Army in the Field.
ARMY VETERINARY CORPS.
Bone, Captain H.

He was appointed a temporary Major with seniority dated back to the 23rd May 1912.

War Office,
2nd January, 1917.
The following despatch has been received by the Secretary of
State for War from General Sir Douglas Haig, G.C.B., Commanderin-Chief of the British Armies in France: —
General Headquarters,
13th November, 1916.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit a list of names of those officers, ladies, non-commissioned officers and men, serving, or who have served, under my command, whose distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty I consider deserving of special mention.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
D. HAIG,
General.
Commander-in-Chief,
The British Armies in France.
ARMY VETERINARY CORPS
Bone, Capt. H.

War Office,
15th May, 1917.
The following despatch has been received by the Secretary of State
for War from Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, G.C.B., Commanderin-Chief of the British Armies in France.
General Headquarters,
9th April, 1917.
Sir,—I have the honour to submit a list* of names of those officers, ladies, non-commissioned officers, and men, serving, or who have served, under my command, whose distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty I consider deserving of special
mention.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
D. HAIG,
Field-Marshal,
Commander-in-Chief, The British
Armies in France.
STAFF.
Bone, Capt. (temp. Maj.) H., A.V.C:

Harry Bone was awarded a Military Cross in the King’s Birthday Honours in June of 1918.

He served in the Veterinary Service and on the Staff of Field Marshall Haig, was Mentioned in Despatches at least three times, was awarded the Military Cross and received the 1914 Star with Clasp, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal with Oak Leave badge (for his Mentions in Despatches).

From being a Temporary Major in France and Flanders at the end of the war Harry Bone was promoted to substantive Major in the Reserve of Officers on the 19th November 1919 Reserve of Officers. Also posted to the Sudan Veterinary Service, which he joined on the 17th December 1919, with the rank of Bimbashi .

In 1919, he was in Egypt and was posted to the Sudan Defence Force from the 5th December 1919 till the 5th December 1926.
Bone was first posted to Wad Medani some 140 km south of Khartoum.

From 1919 to 1924 he was Veterinary Inspector in various provinces combating such bovine diseases as rinderpest, contagious pleuro-pneumonia and trypanosomiasis and African Horse Sickness. He was briefly Acting Director of Veterinary Services in 1924. When the British War Office stopped seconding officers to the British Army he stayed on in Sudan as Principal Veterinary Officer in the Egyptian Army, serving with the Sudan Defence Force. He later served in India where he was Deputy Assistant Director of Veterinary Services, Northern Command, at Dera Ismail Khan in Waziristan.

Major Harry Bone saw service in India. In 1929 he was Deputy Assistant Director of Veterinary Services of Northern Command based at Dera Ismail Khan in Waziristan District (now in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan with seniority dated 14th March 1929). In 1933 Bone was based at Razmak in Waziristan now also in Pakistan.

He retired as a Lieutenant-Colonel on the 20th May 1934.

In 1939, Harry Bone, a retired Army Officer, was residing at 6 Gowan Terrace, Northumberland, at the home of Douglas G. Cochrane, born 24th May 1879, a Shipbroker, and his wife, Florence Cochrane, born 1st September 1882, their son, Rae H. Cochrane, born 21st April 1913, and a servant, Jean Atkinson, born 6th January 1920.

Harry Bone, of 18 Hopetoun Terrace, Gulliane, East Lothian, died on the 5th December 1948.

Sources: British Newspaper Archive; Western Front Association; James Hoy Archive; British Army Lists; National Archives; Jennifer Stephenson; London Gazette; Boffins access

Harry Bone and his brother Thomas Bone are remembered at South Shields on S86.145.