PORTER, Sidney Stanley


No.164241, Gunner, Sidney Stanley PORTER
Aged 29


278th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
Killed in Action on Sunday, 21st July 1918


There are several confusions over the identity of this man as a single man..any further information gratefully received by webmaster@undyingmemory.net.
There is a Sidney Stanley PORTER born in Ipswich in 1885 (Ipswich Q3-1885 4A:767), mother - COOPER, so within parameters for this man and "Soldiers Died has him born at Stanley, Ipswch", but CWGC have his parents as the Late Joseph and Rosa PORTER and no such marriage has been found. It seems more than likely that his mother was Sarah Ann PORTER (née COOPER)

A visit to Bury St.Edmunds cemetery is called for as the family gravestone has five other names, Sidney is described as son in law and Joseph Stanley Porter's name appears. The Bury Free Press have his age as 33, CWGC have him as aged 31, whereas the family monument has 30, his church plaque has 29.

1891 census...Aged 5, he was at Station Terrace, Rose Hill Road, Ipswich with his widowed mother Sarah PORTER [40] shop keeper born Trimley; his sister Hetty [23] The death of his father has not yet been identified.

1901 census...Seems to be - Aged 15, a grocer's apprentice, he was at 57 Tomline Road, Ipswich with his brother in law Henry NEWSON [[37] gatekeeper; his sister Harriett NEWSON [32], niece Hilda [7], all were Ipswich born.

In 1907 he married Nora Nellie Pontin GILDERSLEEVE, born in London in 1880 (actually 12th November 1883), died 1953 Bury St.Edmunds (Thurston ?)

1911 census...Aged 26, a grocer's manager married, he was boarding at 25 Lichfield Road, Stone, with the Machin family. His wife [27] was with her parents at 69 St John's Street, Bury St.Edmunds with their son Joseph Robert Stanley Porter[21-8-1909] born in Newport Pagnell.

The pension card has widow and son at The Bungalow, Thurston, Bury St Edmunds


He enlisted in Colchester whilst resident in Bury St Edmunds (Thurston?) . His legatee was his wife

Artillery movements are very difficult to trace and so far the whereabouts of 278 Siege battery at the time has not been found. His memorial plaque in the church says "near Albert".

Below is an example of the British Mk XIX 6 inch gun which was probably in use by Sidney's unit (photo by way of http://www.landships.info/landships/artillery_articles/6in_Mark_XIX.html .





In St. Peter's Church is the above plaque
TO THE UNFADING MEMORY OF
GUNNER S S PORTER, RGA
KILLED IN ACTION NEAR ALBERT
JULY 20TH 1918
IN THE 30TH YEAR OF HIS AGE
ERECTED BY HIS LOVING WIFE AND SON, NORAH AND ROBERT
WAITING FOR RE-UNION




family stone in Bury St.Edmunds - photo © WMR-94365



photo: ww1cemeteries.com



Sidney is buried in Hedauville Communal Cemetery Extension, grave E:13

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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