Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Porter, a bricklayer’s labourer, born on the 30th October 1870 in Uppingham, Rutland (son of George Porter, 1837 and Catharine Barnett, 1844) and his wife Emily Porter (nee Tyers, married on the 2nd October 1892 in the Church of St. Peter & St Paul, Uppingham), born on the 6th November 1873 in Uppingham and baptised on the 7th December 1873 in the Church of St. Peter & St Paul, Uppingham (daughter of John Tyers, 1832 and Elizabeth Hubbard, 1831). George was born on the 1st April 1894 in Uppingham, his siblings were, Emma, born on the 19th February 1893 and Annie, born on the 27th August 1895, both his siblings were born in Uppingham, in March 1901 the family home was at North Street, Tods Terrace, Uppingham.
In April 1911 George was employed as a farm labourer and was residing in the family home at Tods Terrace, Uppingham, together with his father, a bricklayer’s labourer, his mother and twin siblings, John and Ada, born on the 18th February 1909, the twins were both born in Uppingham.
George enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 9th November 1914 in Uppingham, and was allotted the regimental service number 15943. He gave his place of birth as Uppingham, Rutland and age as 20 years 219 days. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as farm labourer.
His description on enlistment recorded his apparent age as 20 years 219 days, height 5-feet 8¼ inches weight 138 lbs, chest measurement of between 34 and 36½ inches his complexion was described as ruddy, he had brown eyes and his hair colour was -?-. The following distinctive marks were noted, [none recorded]. He gave his religion as [not recorded].
He was certified as fit for the Militia/Territorial Force/Army. Date 9th November 1914. Place Uppingham.
He gave his next of kin as his father, George Porter, mother Emily Porter and brother, John Porter of Todds Terrace, Uppingham, Rutland.
The compilation of events that occurred during his period of military service are taken from the following sources: - Casualty Form – Active Service (B.103). Statement of the Services of. Military History Sheet.
Joined. At Leicester. 9/11/14.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 9/11/14.
Posted. To 7th (Service) Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Aldershot. Pte. 22/11/14.
Embarked. 29/7/15.
Admitted. To 48th Field Ambulance, malformation of foot. In the Field. 1/1/16.
Admitted. To 9th General Hospital Rouen. 5/2/16.
Admitted. To 5th General Hospital, Rouen. 8/3/16.
Discharged from 5th General Hospital. 12/3/16.
Joined. 37th Infantry Brigade Depot, Etaples. 12/3/16.
Rejoined. 7th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. In the Field. 18/3/16.
Wounded in action. In the Field. 14/7/16.
Admitted. To 65th Field Ambulance, gunshot wound left arm and shoulder. In the Field. 14/7/16.
Admitted. To 34th Casualty Clearing Station. In the Field. 14/7/16.
Admitted. To 11th Stationary Hospital.
Transferred. To UK per HS Aberdonian. 16/7/16.
Admitted. To Lichfield Military Hospital. 18/7/16.
Discharged. From Lichfield Military Hospital. 7/8/16.
Posted. To 3rd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 21/9/16.
Posted. To 14th Training Reserve Bn. allotted service number. TR/6/13396. 7/10/16.
Embarked. 25/12/16.
Disembarked. 25/12/16.
Joined. 12th Infantry Brigade Base Depot, Calais. 26/12/16.
Posted. To 9th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Allotted service number 36328. 26/12/16.
Posted. To 7th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 10/1/17.
Joined. 7th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. In the Field.
Wounded in action. In the Field. 23/10/17.
Admitted. To 65th Field Ambulance. In the Field. 23/10/17.
Admitted. To 11th Casualty Clearing Station. In the Field. 23/10/17.
Died of wounds in 11th Casualty Clearing Station. In the Field. 23/10/17
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 9/11/14 – 28/7/15. 262 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 29/7/15 – 17/7/16. 354 days.
Home Service. 18/7/16 – 26/12/16. 162 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 27/12/16 – 23/10/17. 301 days.
Total Service. 2 years 349 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records: 16-23 Oct-17 - RAILWAY EMBANKMENTS, I.20.a. A daily working party of 400 men carried logs for road making from BIRR X ROADS to GLENCORSE WOOD TRACK. One log per man was carried daily. During the eight days, 12 other ranks were wounded by shell fire, most of them slightly.
On Friday 28th, July 1916, The Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury published the following article on page 2, under the heading. – UPPINGHAM. – The following casualties were reported during the week end: - Killed in action: Priv. H. Phillips, Leicester’s (High-street, Uppingham), Wounded: Privs. D. Nutt, W. Nutt and F. Keys, Leicester’s (Rope-walk, Uppingham); priv. G. Porter, Leicester’s (Woodgate, Uppingham); lance-corp. G. Southwell, Leicester’s (Queen-street).
On the 23rd April, 1918 George’s mother, Emily Porter of Todds Terrace, Uppingham, Rutland was awarded an Army Dependant’s Pension of three shillings and six pence for life, commensurate on the 7th May 1918.
A biography reproduced from the 1920 publication, Rutland & the Great War, compiled by G. Phillips records the following: - He was a farm labourer up to his enlistment on the 2nd November, 1914. He went abroad on the 29th July, 1915, and fought in France and Belgium, receiving a gunshot wound in the left shoulder and forearm on the Somme on July 14th, 1916. He returned to active service and died on the 23rd October, 1917 at Number 11 Casualty Clearing Station, France from shell wounds received at Passchendaele Ridge near Ypres. He was buried in the British Cemetery at Godewaerswelde.
[recognitum I-XI-MMXXIV]