William Ernest Porter

A Pioneer with 308th Road Construction Company, William died on 13th of February 1917 at the age of 36.

William was born at Toft Monks, Suffolk, in 1880, a son of John and Susannah Porter. In 1881 his family lived at Main Road, Toft Monks, and 1891 at Beccles Road, Toft Monks. By 1901 they were living at Sycamore Estate, Carlton Colville, and William was an agricultural labourer. Later his parents lived at Gisleham.  

William married Maria Garrod at Saint Peter’s Church, Carlton Colville on 5 August 1901. William was a labourer and they both lived at Carlton Colville. In 1911 they lived at Beccles Road, Oulton Broad, and William was a coal merchant. Later their address was Stromness, Beccles Road. 

William was working as a coal merchant when he attested for the Army at Lowestoft on 19 December 1916. He was called up on 4 January 1917 and joined the Royal Engineers, service number 225371. He was posted to the Road Construction Companies and his service qualification was ‘roadman’. On 4 February 1917 he embarked, for France, to serve with 308 Road Construction Company. Initially he was billeted at No 2 Camp. 

William was admitted to No 2 General Hospital, Le Havre, on 9 February 1917, to be treated for influenza. He died there, at 7.30 p.m. on 13 February. A post-mortem found that William was a ‘well-nourished’ man and that his cause of death was ‘syncope suddenly supervening on a case of influenza.’

William's brother-in-law, Herbert Garrod, served in the Suffolk Regiment and died in 1917.