BORN HULL 1892. A HULL POLICEMAN. SON OF WILLIAM HENRY PORTER (1869-1954) & SARAH ELIZABETH PORTER (1872-1904), OF 85, CLARENDON STREET, HULL (1911 CENSUS) & 430 HESSLE ROAD, HULL. SON OF A GENERAL CARRIER. HE HAD FIVE BROTHERS AND TWO SISTERS.
HUSBAND OF HARRIET ELIZABETH PORTER, OF 5, CLIFTON GARDENS, ST GEORGES ROAD, HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESS). THEY HAD ONE DAUGHTER, IVY ISOBEL, BORN ON 03/12/1912.
HE ENLISTED IN HULL. SERVED WITH THE 1/4TH EAST YORKSHIRES. ARRIVED IN FRANCE, ON 17/04/1915. KILLED IN ACTION DURING THE GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE, ON 27/05/1918, AGED 25.
HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS WIDOW, HARRIET ELIZABETH PORTER.
HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE SOISSON MEMORIAL TO THE MISSING, FRANCE. HE IS ALSO COMMEMORATED ON THE ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH MEMORIAL, NEWINGTON, HULL.
HIS YOUNGER BROTHER, PRIVATE, ROBERT HENRY PORTER, 1/4TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT, WAS KILLED 10/05/1916 AGED 17 YEARS.
1/4th East Yorkshire Battalion War Diary – 27th May 1918
When the storm of gas and High Explosive shells broke over the 50th Division, at 1am, on 27 May 1918, the 1/4th East Yorkshire Regiment of the 150th Brigade (the left Battalion, of the left Brigade of the Division) were disposed as follows: “A” Company held the front line, “B” Company was in close support in Trench Falais (in CRONNE, at the disposal of the 5th Green Howards (on the right of the 1/4th EYR), “D” Company was in support in Marais. For two and half hours the Tornado swept the whole divisional area, causing many casualties and practically destroying the Trenches. The 1/4th EYR was completely disorganised and rear guard actions were fought back to the River Aisne and the Bridge at Maizy, “the number which succeeded in crossing being very small.” Total strength of the 1/4th EYR was 4 Officers and 105 Other Ranks, out of 30 Officers and 642 Other Ranks, which began, before the attack. The Battle continued until 6th June 1918, but the 1/4th EYR took no further part after the 27th May and retired to Vert La Gravelle.
