Private Alfred Porter (1881-1961) was born in Murcot, the younger of two sons of John and Ellen Porter. The family was living in a cottage on Manor Road, Wickhamford in 1891 and at The Leys, Badsey in 1901.
Alfred was a career soldier who enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps (No 16242) on 25th September 1901. At enlistment he was a bricklayer’s labourer and in 1903 he extended his service to an eight-year period. On 24th September 1909 he transferred to the Reserves but was re-engaged on 8th September 1913 for a further 4 years.
During the war he served overseas for three periods including an early tour in France, from 15th August 1914 to 29th June 1915. The location of his second (25.7.15 – 20.2.16) and third (5.4.16 – 8.9.16) overseas tours is not clear in the records, but the former one may have been in the Mediterranean theatre. A War Office casualty listing of 2nd July 1915, records him as ‘missing and unofficially a prisoner’ on 15th June.
Alfred was demobilised on 31st March 1920, having served for 18 years 188 days. When he left the army he was living in Church Row, Pershore and was awarded the 1914 Star and the British War and Victory medals. (His war service records are particularly complete, amounting to over 80 pages of documents.)
Alfred’s older brother, Charles Porter, also served in the war.