何(he)石,字玉山,1895年(nian)(nian)出生(sheng)于廣東省(sheng)潮州(zhou)府普寧縣南園(yuan)村一(yi)個農民(min)家庭。父母早喪,少年(nian)(nian)時給人看牛(niu)和到(dao)縫衣店當(dang)學徒,稍長在石料工(gong)(gong)場(chang)當(dang)打石工(gong)(gong)人。1913年(nian)(nian),年(nian)(nian)方18歲的(de)何(he)石遠走(zou)南洋(yang),只(zhi)身到(dao)馬來西亞(ya)檳(bin)城(cheng)尋求生(sheng)計。在南洋(yang)做苦力和國內一(yi)樣受顧(gu)主的(de)欺凌,他懷著反抗的(de)精(jing)神參加工(gong)(gong)會,與(yu)當(dang)地惡勢力作斗爭(zheng),結果被(bei)抓入獄,1921年(nian)(nian)被(bei)遣送回國。
他父母早喪,少年(nian)(nian)時(shi)給(gei)人放牛和在(zai)縫(feng)衣(yi)店當(dang)(dang)學徒,稍長當(dang)(dang)打(da)石工人。1913年(nian)(nian)遠涉重(zhong)洋到檳城謀(mou)生(sheng)。因參加工會與當(dang)(dang)地(di)(di)(di)惡勢力斗(dou)爭(zheng)而被捕入(ru)獄。1921年(nian)(nian)被遣回(hui)(hui)國(guo)。1923年(nian)(nian),他回(hui)(hui)鄉參加農(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)會鬧革(ge)命(ming),協(xie)助(zhu)澎湃派出的工作(zuo)隊開展(zhan)工作(zuo)。1926年(nian)(nian)1月(yue),參加中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)共產(chan)黨(dang),并任(ren)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)共普寧支(zhi)部(bu)(bu)支(zhi)委,分管軍(jun)(jun)事。同(tong)年(nian)(nian)5月(yue)1日,他出席廣東省第(di)二(er)次農(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)民代表大(da)(da)會,并被選為省農(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)會第(di)二(er)屆執委會候補委員。同(tong)年(nian)(nian)12月(yue),擔任(ren)普寧縣農(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)民自衛(wei)軍(jun)(jun)基干(gan)(gan)大(da)(da)隊大(da)(da)隊長。此(ci)后,他主持(chi)訓(xun)練(lian)農(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)軍(jun)(jun)骨干(gan)(gan),加強農(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)軍(jun)(jun)隊伍(wu)建設(she)。1927年(nian)(nian)4月(yue)23日,與楊石魂等發(fa)起(qi)第(di)二(er)次攻打(da)普寧縣城的戰(zhan)斗(dou),在(zai)圍(wei)城打(da)援中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)全殲國(guo)民黨(dang)正規軍(jun)(jun)一(yi)個連,威震粵東。由(you)于(yu)(yu)敵強我弱,攻城失敗。他帶(dai)領(ling)20多人轉移到大(da)(da)南(nan)山西(xi)部(bu)(bu)一(yi)帶(dai),開展(zhan)游擊活(huo)動(dong)。當(dang)(dang)“八一(yi)”起(qi)義(yi)軍(jun)(jun)南(nan)下(xia)潮汕(shan)時(shi),他迅速(su)集結(jie)300多人的隊伍(wu),并于(yu)(yu)9月(yue)28日,在(zai)起(qi)義(yi)軍(jun)(jun)協(xie)助(zhu)下(xia)再(zai)次圍(wei)攻普寧縣城獲勝,大(da)(da)展(zhan)雄威。1927年(nian)(nian)冬,他擔任(ren)大(da)(da)南(nan)山后方委員會主任(ren),發(fa)動(dong)群(qun)眾(zhong)抗租抗債,開展(zhan)土地(di)(di)(di)革(ge)命(ming),輪訓(xun)各鄉村赤衛(wei)隊骨干(gan)(gan)。1928年(nian)(nian)四(si)、五月(yue)間(jian),敵集結(jie)幾千兵力圍(wei)攻大(da)(da)南(nan)山根據(ju)地(di)(di)(di),東江(jiang)特委遭(zao)敵破壞,黨(dang)組織損失嚴(yan)重(zhong)。他克(ke)服一(yi)切(qie)艱(jian)難險阻,堅持(chi)革(ge)命(ming)斗(dou)爭(zheng),獨立帶(dai)領(ling)一(yi)支(zhi)小隊伍(wu)活(huo)動(dong)于(yu)(yu)密林間(jian)堅持(chi)戰(zhan)斗(dou)。1929年(nian)(nian)7月(yue)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)旬,潮普惠揭四(si)縣聯席會議根據(ju)上級指示,將地(di)(di)(di)方團(tuan)(tuan)隊組建成(cheng)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)工農(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)紅(hong)軍(jun)(jun)第(di)六軍(jun)(jun)第(di)十六師第(di)四(si)十七團(tuan)(tuan),他擔任(ren)團(tuan)(tuan)長。從此(ci),帶(dai)領(ling)部(bu)(bu)隊緊(jin)密配合(he)群(qun)眾(zhong)斗(dou)爭(zheng),橫掃大(da)(da)南(nan)山及其邊(bian)緣各鄉的民團(tuan)(tuan)據(ju)點(dian),繳獲了(le)大(da)(da)批槍支(zhi)彈藥,鞏固和發(fa)展(zhan)了(le)根據(ju)地(di)(di)(di)。