Arthur Victor Porter

A Private with 7th Bn., Arthur died on 4th of October 1915 at the age of 18. 

Arthur was born at Lowestoft in 1897, a son of George and Emily Porter. In 1901 his family lived at 81 Wollaston Road, Lowestoft, and this was still their home in 1911. 

Arthur volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment and was posted to the 7th Battalion. He arrived in France with the 7th battalion on 30 May 1915. 

In late September 1915 the 7th Battalion moved to front-line trenches at Loos. The battalion was subjected to sporadic enemy shell-fire for most of 2nd October 1915. For most of 3rd October the Battalion was subjected to German shell fire and the area known as the Chalk Pit was particularly targeted. Late on the 3rd the Battalion was relieved by the 9th Battalion Essex Regiment and moved to support trenches. There was light shelling on their position during the 4th, but the 5th and 6th were very quiet.

Arthur was killed by enemy shell-fire on the 4th. 

The following report appeared in the Ipswich Evening Star 1 November 1915, page 1:

Mr. and Mrs. George Porter, of Lowestoft, have been notified that their son, Private Arthur Victor Porter, aged eighteen, who was in the Suffolks, has been killed in France. They have received the following letter from Lieutenant Peter Gedge: - “I am writing to express my mots sincere sympathy with you for the loss of your son. He was among the original members of the machine-gun section of this battalion, and in whatever he had to do he always showed efficiency and devotion to duty, setting a splendid example to all around him. He was killed by a shell bursting in a trench, so was spared any suffering. We buried him that night in front of the trench where he fell, and his team marked the grave with a cross. He is a great loss to all the section, and myself. Private Porter, before he enlisted was employed at Messrs. Flood’s, Borough Printing Works, Lowestoft.