何石(shi),字玉山,1895年(nian)出生于廣(guang)東省潮州府(fu)普(pu)寧縣南園村一(yi)個農民家庭。父(fu)母早喪(sang),少年(nian)時給人看牛和(he)到縫(feng)衣店當(dang)學徒,稍長在石(shi)料工場(chang)當(dang)打石(shi)工人。1913年(nian),年(nian)方18歲的何石(shi)遠(yuan)走南洋,只身到馬來(lai)西亞檳城(cheng)尋求(qiu)生計。在南洋做苦力和(he)國內(nei)一(yi)樣受顧主的欺(qi)凌,他懷著反抗的精神參加工會,與當(dang)地惡勢(shi)力作斗爭,結果被抓入獄,1921年(nian)被遣送回(hui)國。
他(ta)父(fu)母(mu)早(zao)喪,少(shao)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)時(shi)給人(ren)放牛和在縫衣店當(dang)學徒,稍長(chang)當(dang)打(da)石(shi)工(gong)(gong)人(ren)。1913年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)遠涉重洋到檳城(cheng)謀生。因參(can)加(jia)(jia)工(gong)(gong)會(hui)與(yu)(yu)當(dang)地(di)(di)惡勢力(li)斗(dou)(dou)(dou)爭而被(bei)捕(bu)入獄(yu)。1921年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)被(bei)遣回(hui)國。1923年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),他(ta)回(hui)鄉參(can)加(jia)(jia)農(nong)(nong)(nong)會(hui)鬧革(ge)命(ming),協助澎湃派出的(de)(de)(de)工(gong)(gong)作隊(dui)(dui)開展(zhan)工(gong)(gong)作。1926年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)1月(yue),參(can)加(jia)(jia)中國共產黨,并任中共普寧(ning)(ning)支部(bu)支委(wei),分管軍(jun)事。同年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)5月(yue)1日(ri),他(ta)出席(xi)廣東省(sheng)(sheng)第(di)二(er)(er)次農(nong)(nong)(nong)民(min)代表大(da)會(hui),并被(bei)選為省(sheng)(sheng)農(nong)(nong)(nong)會(hui)第(di)二(er)(er)屆執委(wei)會(hui)候補委(wei)員。同年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)12月(yue),擔任普寧(ning)(ning)縣農(nong)(nong)(nong)民(min)自衛軍(jun)基干大(da)隊(dui)(dui)大(da)隊(dui)(dui)長(chang)。此后(hou),他(ta)主持(chi)訓練農(nong)(nong)(nong)軍(jun)骨干,加(jia)(jia)強(qiang)農(nong)(nong)(nong)軍(jun)隊(dui)(dui)伍(wu)建(jian)設。1927年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)4月(yue)23日(ri),與(yu)(yu)楊石(shi)魂(hun)等發(fa)起(qi)第(di)二(er)(er)次攻(gong)打(da)普寧(ning)(ning)縣城(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)戰斗(dou)(dou)(dou),在圍(wei)城(cheng)打(da)援中全殲(jian)國民(min)黨正規(gui)軍(jun)一個(ge)連,威震(zhen)粵東。由于敵(di)強(qiang)我弱,攻(gong)城(cheng)失敗(bai)。他(ta)帶領20多(duo)人(ren)轉移到大(da)南(nan)(nan)山(shan)西部(bu)一帶,開展(zhan)游擊(ji)活(huo)動(dong)。當(dang)“八一”起(qi)義(yi)軍(jun)南(nan)(nan)下(xia)潮汕時(shi),他(ta)迅速集結300多(duo)人(ren)的(de)(de)(de)隊(dui)(dui)伍(wu),并于9月(yue)28日(ri),在起(qi)義(yi)軍(jun)協助下(xia)再(zai)次圍(wei)攻(gong)普寧(ning)(ning)縣城(cheng)獲勝,大(da)展(zhan)雄(xiong)威。1927年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)冬,他(ta)擔任大(da)南(nan)(nan)山(shan)后(hou)方委(wei)員會(hui)主任,發(fa)動(dong)群眾抗(kang)租抗(kang)債,開展(zhan)土(tu)地(di)(di)革(ge)命(ming),輪訓各鄉村赤衛隊(dui)(dui)骨干。1928年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)四(si)(si)、五(wu)月(yue)間,敵(di)集結幾千(qian)兵力(li)圍(wei)攻(gong)大(da)南(nan)(nan)山(shan)根(gen)據地(di)(di),東江特委(wei)遭敵(di)破壞(huai),黨組(zu)織(zhi)損(sun)失嚴重。他(ta)克(ke)服一切艱難險阻,堅持(chi)革(ge)命(ming)斗(dou)(dou)(dou)爭,獨立(li)帶領一支小隊(dui)(dui)伍(wu)活(huo)動(dong)于密林間堅持(chi)戰斗(dou)(dou)(dou)。1929年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)7月(yue)中旬,潮普惠揭四(si)(si)縣聯席(xi)會(hui)議根(gen)據上級指示(shi),將地(di)(di)方團(tuan)(tuan)隊(dui)(dui)組(zu)建(jian)成中國工(gong)(gong)農(nong)(nong)(nong)紅軍(jun)第(di)六(liu)軍(jun)第(di)十六(liu)師第(di)四(si)(si)十七團(tuan)(tuan),他(ta)擔任團(tuan)(tuan)長(chang)。從此,帶領部(bu)隊(dui)(dui)緊密配合群眾斗(dou)(dou)(dou)爭,橫(heng)掃大(da)南(nan)(nan)山(shan)及其邊緣各鄉的(de)(de)(de)民(min)團(tuan)(tuan)據點,繳獲了大(da)批槍(qiang)支彈(dan)藥,鞏固和發(fa)展(zhan)了根(gen)據地(di)(di)。