London - William Stone, one of four surviving British veterans from World War I, has died at a care home aged 108, the Veterans' Association said Monday.

Stone, who was known as Bill, joined the Royal Navy in Plymouth, southern England, as a stoker in 1918, at the age of 18. He also served in World War II during which he took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940.

His death Sunday afternoon was confirmed by Dennis Goodwin, secretary of the World War One Veterans Association.

"He was always a battler," Goodwin said of Stone, who had been fighting against a chest infection.

Last November, Stone was one of three veterans to take part in commemorations to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I in London.

He is survived by veterans Henry Allingham, 112, and Harry Patch, 110. The fourth surviving veteran, 107-year-old Claude Choules, lives in Australia. dpa