Regiment: Mercantile Marine.
Died: 01 June 1940 aged 18 in France. Killed on active service at Dunkirk.
Battle: Battle of Dunkirk. Cemetery: Chatham Naval Memorial 37, 1.
Son of Sidney Harold and Mabel Porter, of Sandwell, Handsworth Wood Rd., Birmingham.
H.M.S. Safeguard, Royal Navy.
'Ordinary Signalman H.M.S. Royal Arthur. At the time of the evacuation from Dunkirk he was due for leave, but apparently volunteered with three local fishermen to help in their fishing boats. A letter from the Captain commanding to his parents says: "They had saved 1,000 lives and were being towed by another boat when they struck a mine and were blown up. Your boy had always done well and as their commanding officer I have seen what these boys have done and I am proud of them." Being blessed with neither good health nor outstanding ability he made no great mark at school, and it is said that he was over-sensitive about his apparent lack of success; but all will allow that when his chance came he took it and that his name stands high on our "Roll of Honour".' (Malvernian, July 1940).