The son of Ernest Albert and Florrie Annie Porter, Edward was best friend and neighbour to fellow Auxilier Vic Stemp. The two had built an aeroplane before the war, which failed to take off when the propeller fell off.
Jack was the brother-in-law of John Hellier who married Evelyn Porter, Jack's sister. John also served in the Far East.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Bealings Patrol | Patrol member | Unknown | Unknown |
Edward left Auxiliary Units for the Army, possibly around April 1943 when the restrictions on call up were lifted.
He served in Burma with the Devonshire Regiment where he died. He is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial as well as the Great Bealings War Memorial, the only person in the village to die during the war.
The War Diary of the 1st Devons record that on 21 Mar 1944 they attempted an attack on a small hill, starting from Devon Hill, using A and B Companies. B company and Battalion HQ came under machine fire. Two men were killed in the attack, including Edward Porter.
He is also remembered on a plaque in St Mary's Church, Great Bealings.
TNA ref WO199/3389,
Brian McMurray
Gareath Evans and information from Great Bealings Church