何(he)石(shi),字玉(yu)山,1895年出生于(yu)廣東省潮州府普寧縣南(nan)園村一(yi)個(ge)農民家庭。父母早喪,少(shao)年時(shi)給人看(kan)牛(niu)和到縫衣(yi)店當學徒(tu),稍長(chang)在(zai)石(shi)料工(gong)場當打石(shi)工(gong)人。1913年,年方18歲的(de)(de)何(he)石(shi)遠走南(nan)洋,只身到馬來西(xi)亞檳(bin)城尋(xun)求生計。在(zai)南(nan)洋做苦(ku)力和國內一(yi)樣受(shou)顧(gu)主的(de)(de)欺凌,他懷著反(fan)抗的(de)(de)精神參加工(gong)會,與當地惡勢力作斗爭,結果被抓入獄,1921年被遣送回國。
他(ta)(ta)父母早喪,少年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)時給(gei)人(ren)放牛和在縫衣店當(dang)學(xue)徒,稍(shao)長(chang)當(dang)打石工人(ren)。1913年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)遠(yuan)涉重(zhong)洋到(dao)檳(bin)城(cheng)(cheng)謀生(sheng)。因參(can)加(jia)工會(hui)(hui)(hui)與當(dang)地(di)惡勢(shi)力斗(dou)爭(zheng)(zheng)而被(bei)捕入(ru)獄。1921年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)被(bei)遣回國。1923年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),他(ta)(ta)回鄉(xiang)參(can)加(jia)農(nong)會(hui)(hui)(hui)鬧革(ge)命,協助澎湃(pai)派出的工作(zuo)隊開(kai)展工作(zuo)。1926年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)1月(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue),參(can)加(jia)中國共(gong)產黨,并任(ren)(ren)中共(gong)普(pu)(pu)(pu)寧支(zhi)部支(zhi)委(wei)(wei),分管軍事。同(tong)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)5月(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)1日(ri),他(ta)(ta)出席廣東(dong)省第(di)二次農(nong)民(min)(min)(min)代(dai)表大(da)(da)會(hui)(hui)(hui),并被(bei)選為(wei)省農(nong)會(hui)(hui)(hui)第(di)二屆執委(wei)(wei)會(hui)(hui)(hui)候補委(wei)(wei)員(yuan)。同(tong)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)12月(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue),擔(dan)任(ren)(ren)普(pu)(pu)(pu)寧縣農(nong)民(min)(min)(min)自衛(wei)軍基干(gan)大(da)(da)隊大(da)(da)隊長(chang)。此后,他(ta)(ta)主持(chi)訓(xun)練農(nong)軍骨(gu)干(gan),加(jia)強(qiang)農(nong)軍隊伍建設。1927年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)4月(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)23日(ri),與楊石魂(hun)等發起第(di)二次攻打普(pu)(pu)(pu)寧縣城(cheng)(cheng)的戰斗(dou),在圍城(cheng)(cheng)打援中全殲國民(min)(min)(min)黨正規(gui)軍一(yi)個(ge)連,威震粵東(dong)。由于(yu)敵(di)強(qiang)我(wo)弱,攻城(cheng)(cheng)失(shi)敗。他(ta)(ta)帶領20多人(ren)轉移到(dao)大(da)(da)南山(shan)(shan)西部一(yi)帶,開(kai)展游擊活動(dong)。當(dang)“八一(yi)”起義軍南下(xia)潮汕(shan)時,他(ta)(ta)迅(xun)速集結300多人(ren)的隊伍,并于(yu)9月(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)28日(ri),在起義軍協助下(xia)再次圍攻普(pu)(pu)(pu)寧縣城(cheng)(cheng)獲勝,大(da)(da)展雄威。1927年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)冬,他(ta)(ta)擔(dan)任(ren)(ren)大(da)(da)南山(shan)(shan)后方委(wei)(wei)員(yuan)會(hui)(hui)(hui)主任(ren)(ren),發動(dong)群眾(zhong)(zhong)抗(kang)租(zu)抗(kang)債,開(kai)展土(tu)地(di)革(ge)命,輪訓(xun)各(ge)鄉(xiang)村赤衛(wei)隊骨(gu)干(gan)。1928年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)四(si)、五月(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)間(jian),敵(di)集結幾千兵力圍攻大(da)(da)南山(shan)(shan)根據(ju)地(di),東(dong)江(jiang)特委(wei)(wei)遭敵(di)破壞,黨組織損失(shi)嚴重(zhong)。他(ta)(ta)克(ke)服一(yi)切艱難險阻,堅持(chi)革(ge)命斗(dou)爭(zheng)(zheng),獨立帶領一(yi)支(zhi)小隊伍活動(dong)于(yu)密林間(jian)堅持(chi)戰斗(dou)。1929年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)7月(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)中旬(xun),潮普(pu)(pu)(pu)惠揭四(si)縣聯(lian)席會(hui)(hui)(hui)議根據(ju)上級指示,將地(di)方團(tuan)(tuan)隊組建成中國工農(nong)紅(hong)軍第(di)六軍第(di)十(shi)六師第(di)四(si)十(shi)七團(tuan)(tuan),他(ta)(ta)擔(dan)任(ren)(ren)團(tuan)(tuan)長(chang)。從(cong)此,帶領部隊緊密配合群眾(zhong)(zhong)斗(dou)爭(zheng)(zheng),橫掃大(da)(da)南山(shan)(shan)及其(qi)邊緣各(ge)鄉(xiang)的民(min)(min)(min)團(tuan)(tuan)據(ju)點,繳獲了大(da)(da)批槍支(zhi)彈藥,鞏(gong)固和發展了根據(ju)地(di)。