12/617 Private Claude William Porter 28/3/1893-26/6/1940.

Claude William Porter's story is a strange one.  Having been wounded twice in one big war, he volunteered for another.  He died while on the way there - though his cause of death is unknown.

His archived military record is interesting also.  Awarded the Military Medal twice, he was not a disciplined soldier - found in a cafe during prohibited hours, absent from parade, drunkenness and escaping from custody, absent after hours from his billet.

Claude also went missing in action for a few days during the Gallipoli Campaign.  This period of absence began during his service as a Private in the Auckland Infantry Regiment on May 8th, 1915, the day of the New Zealanders' assault on the Turkish positions at Achi Baba, the day of the assault over the "Daisy Patch:"

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Immediately in front the ground sloped away for a little distance; then came a field of beautiful wild flowers, and then a gentle scrub-covered slope rising to a crest-line in the middle distance. Beyond this again was the hump of Achi Baba. To the right front was a clump of pine trees. There was no visible sign of the enemy. The Colonel came along: "Well, boys, the orders are to go ahead, and we have got to carry them out." The Regulars were not encouraging. "What! You are going to cross the Daisy Patch — God help you!" They had tried the day before, with no success. "Yes, of course we are going!" and on the signal every man of the first line was over the parapet and down the slope. Then the hail of Turkish fire smote them.'  -The Auckland Regiment, Official History.

The Aucklands were withdrawn at the end of that hellish day.  They were no longer regarded as an effective fighting force.  Claude was one of the 50 Aucklanders listed as missing from the period between the Landing and their being withdrawn.

THE DARDANELLES

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

PRIVATE PORTER. Private Claude William Porter (reported missing) is the third son of Mr David Porter, of the St. Kilda Hotel, Dunedin. He is 20 years of age, and was born in Dunedin, and educated at the Forbury School. He subsequently entered the services of Mr J Peterson, grocer, where he was employed until two years ago, when he left for Auckland. He was one of the first to offer his services, and left with the Main Expeditionary Force. He was a bright and popular young fellow, always having a cheery word and a bright smile for all who knew him. His eldest brother (David) is a corporal in the Fifth Reinforcements, and another brother (Jack) is now at Trentham.  -ODT, 18/6/1915.

Thirteen days later, Claude showed up.  Four days after that, he was in hospital with the condition "septic hands," presumably the result of minor but untreated wounds which had been infected during his period in - who knows where.  He was transferred to the hospital on the island of Mudros and then to Malta with the annotation on his record "wounded rt leg barbed wire."

At the beginning of 1916, Claude was back with the Aucklanders and embarked with them for France.  It was there that his indiscipline asserted itself.  Perhaps his experiences at Gallipoli had brought him to a realisation that a soldier's life was not for him.  In April, 1916 he was charged with refusal to obey an order.  Next month he was found absent from his billet.  In August, "drunk," September, "late on parade."

The Auckland Regiment went into the Battle of the Somme on September 15, 1916.  It was in this battle that Claude Porter won the Military Medal.  Details of such awards are difficult to find online but the Official History has this interesting detail:

'Captain Dineen went over, leading the first wave of the 15th Company, to fall mortally wounded half-way across. The Regiment never lost a finer officer. Enlisting at the outbreak of war, he had trained for the Royal Flying Corps, and at the last moment, when his training had been completed, was rejected for some trifling defect in vision. He at once joined the N.Z.E.F., offering to throw in his commission and serve as a private in the ranks. He was not allowed to do this, and was attached to 1/Auckland as a captain. The trench warfare at Armentières had shown him to be the very finest type of soldier, a man endowed with a splendid physical self, of great mental ability, with a will like steel and a nerve that nothing could shake; absolutely conscientious, strict, but just and very thoughtful, a man who "reverenced his conscience as his king." He was the bravest man in his company, because he was the best. Terribly wounded as he was, he continued to direct his men as the successive waves passed him. The stretcher-bearers, Porter, Forrest and other gallant men made great efforts to save him, but after three of them had fallen in the attempt they were compelled to wait. He died on the way to the Base.'

It would seem that Claude's usefulness as a soldier - or lack of same - had been recognised by his relegation to stretcher-bearer.  His courage, however, was undeniable.  His next recorded military infraction was one month later - "absent from billet."

In February, 1917, Claude was admitted to a Field Hospital with scabies, a diagnosis later changed to impetigo - both skin diseases quite easily contracted in damp, crowded trench conditions.  He was back with the Aucklands by the end of March.  Through the year of 1917, his record of infractions continued - absent, false statement to the Military Police, disobeying a command.

DISTINGUISHED BRAVERY. 

RECIPIENTS OF MILITARY MEDALS. 

Private Claude Wm. Porter, son of Mr D. Porter, of St. Kilda Hotel, has been awarded the Military Medal for distinguished bravery in the fighting on the Somme. He left New Zealand with the Main Body as a member of the Auckland Infantry Battalion, and saw service at Gallipoli before proceeding to France. He was reported missing at Gallipoli, but subsequently rejoined his regiment. Sapper Percy Leonard Keys, who left with the Main Expeditionary Force, and went through Gallipoli, and is now in France, has been awarded a Military Medal for gallantry in the field. Latest advices from him stated he was quite well. Mr B. H. Keys (superintendent, of telegraphs Dunedin), who is the father of Sapper Keys, says that to date he has no particulars of the incident for which the medal was awarded. Two more of Mr Keys's sons are also under arms — Fred. Keys, who left by the 19th Reinforcements, and Ben, the eldest son, who will leave in about a month's time for tho front. 

CORPORAL DAVID PORTER. News was recently received that Corporal David Porter, eldest son of Mr D. Porter of the St. Kilda Hotel, who left New Zealand with the Fifth Reinforcements, was missing, and was believed to be killed as a result of the fighting on the Somme about September 26. In a letter received by Mrs Porter from a comrade of Corporal Porter the writer says: — "Just a few lines to tell you how David went down at the Somme. I have been hoping against hope that he would turn up, but now I have lost all hope of seeing him again. When we went up to the firing line I was in the battalion bombers, and, as my work took me away from the company, I saw very little of the lads. In the charge on the 26th our company — the 14th got it hot and our platoon got the worst gruelling of the lot. Only one man came out unwounded, and out of the whole company only, 14 answered the roll call in the trench. David was in our section, and one of the chaps who went out with him, and who was wounded, but managed to limp back told me he did not think any of them would get out of it. My God, some fine men were left behind after that charge! It may be some consolation to you to know that your son was one of the most popular in the regiment; in fact, I do not know one who was better liked. The Otago battalion has been very unlucky right through the piece. I saw Claude (another of Mrs Potter's sons) a few days before I came over. He got the military medal for good work on the Somme. David should have had one for his gallantry on July 4, when he did some fine work as a stretcher-bearer on the night of the raid. You have lost a fine boy, we have lost our best comrade and the regiment has lost a fine soldier."  -Otago Daily Times, 2/2/1917.

In October of 1917, the Auckland Regiment marched into the meat-grinder which was later named "3rd Ypres," or "Passchendaele."  On October 4th, Claude was wounded in the left arm on the day of the big attack on the garrison at Winzig.   He was admitted to hospital again at Le Treport but his injury did not curtail his unmilitary activities.  His charges of October 20th are meticulous: 1)in a cafe during prohibited hours 2)possessing spirits 3)absent 14 1/2 hours.  Clearly, the rules and a bullet in the arm were not going to prevent Claude Porter from enjoying his war where and when he could.  The 14 days of No.1 Field Punishment was the price he paid.

At the end of October, Claude received a bar to his Military Medal, for actions during the Passchendaele battle.  He got UK leave for the Christmas of 1917, though he was back with the Regiment on Christmas Eve.  He was appointed Company Cook shortly after, in February, 1918, and detached to a Cooking School for his new role.  On May 26 he rejoined from the school and, on the 30th, he "Relinq Appt of Coy. Cook."  The next day, he was charged with "drunkenness and escaping from custody."

By that stage, the NZEF seems to have found Claude very much "surplus to requirements."  He was undoubtedly brave but impossible to deal with out of the Front Line.  He was embarked for home on the SS Remuera.

Claude returned to Dunedin in Draft 187 of October, 1918.  

POLICE COURT
MAINTENANCE CASES. 
Claude Porter was proceeded against for being £48 19s in arrears on an order made for the support of his illegitimate child. Mr C. J. L. White, who appeared for complainant, said that the amount was large because there were twins. Defendant was a barman, employed by his father. The Magistrate: You evidently considered it wise to bring the case before next month. The defendant was sentenced to three months in Dunedin prison, Porter to be released on the payment of the arrears.   -Evening Star, 10/11/1922.


His life is an obscure one until the year 1934.  Claude is now "an unemployed miner" in that year of the Great Depression.  It is possible that he had a yearning for the good old days behind the Line, the hectic pleasure-seeking days in French cafes.

FALSE PRETENCES.

DUNEDIN MAN'S ORGY. 

DRINKING AND GAMBLING. VALUELESS CHEQUES ISSUED. 

(By Telegraph. — Press Association.) DUNEDIN. this day. Issuing valueless cheques totalling £78 in two days, Claude William Porter, aged 39, indulged in an orgy of drinking and gambling, and after days of hectic living he gave himself up to the police. In the Police Court this morning Porter pleaded guilty to a charge of false pretences involving the sum of £51. The police stated that the accused went to the Bank of New Zealand, where his father had an account and obtained a cheque book in his father's name, and then set out on a career of issuing valueless cheques. Counsel said accused left with the Main Body of the N.Z.E.F. when 19 years of age and served throughout the war. He was twice severely wounded and was decorated with the Military Medal with bar. Accused was remanded for a week in custody.  -Auckland Star, 18/5/1934.

FOUR MONTHS’ GAOL.

Claude William Porter appeared for sentence on three charges of false pretences. Mr C. J. L. White, who appeared for him, said that apparently the probation officer’s report was based on the fact that the accused would not agree to taking out a prohibition order. There were serious reasons why he should not do so, for he had the chance of regular employment in an hotel — his only chance of getting work — and if a prohibition order were taken out it would spoil his opportunity. His Worship would notice that all the money was obtained within two days, and that the man was a first offender. Further, after indulging in a drunken orgy, he voluntarily gave himself up. In fact, he was still in a drunken condition at that time. Unfortunately money for restitution had not been obtained, but there was every possibility of that being done. The accused was a man of good character. The Magistrate remarked that the statement regarding the accused’s good character seemed to be rather exaggerated. In the probation officer’s report he was summed up as a ”drunken reprobate.” The report showed clearly that the probation officer did not think probation should be granted, and he (the magistrate) agreed with him. On the first charge the accused would be sentenced to four months’ imprisonment. On the other charges he would be convicted and discharged.  -Evening Star, 25/5/1934.

Claude's last years were spent in Australia, where he joined the Australian Army at the beginning of the second World War.  Relatively advanced in years for a soldier, he was enlisted as a Sapper.  He died on his way to the War, by accident, in Cape Town, where he lies.

VALE!

A Memory Of  "Jerry" Porter 

NEWS is to hand of the death in England, through accident, of Sapper Claude William Porter, who was serving with the Australian Forces. 

Jerry, as he was popularly known, was a Main Body, N.Z.E.F. man. He served at Gallipoli, where he was awarded the Military Medal, to which was added a bar later on in France. He was one of those indomitable daredevils, an excellent soldier, who could be relied on in any emergency. Early last year we told a story of an irate colonel of the old school, "pukka" type, for base duties during the last war, a group of Diggers and a barrel of stout — you may remember it. Jerry was one of the actors in this drama-cum-comedy. It was the fact that the cookhouse group, who purloined the colonel's barrel of stout from his men, had amongst them Jerry with his medal ribbon that saved the situation. The colonel, in search of his stout, arrived at the cookhouse, where he was taken in hand by the sergeant-cook — and Jerry. These two old-timers displayed a diplomacy worthy of the highest traditions. The sergeant-cook, addressing the irate old lad, said to him. "But, sir, just think; here is a man who served at Gallipoli, and you see, by the ribbon on his breast, was decorated. Now, you, as an old soldier, would not allow such a man to celebrate Christmas without a drop of something worthy of the occasion," or words to that effect.

The little speech had the desired effect. "Dang me, sergeant, I could not do that to an Anzac. Let's have a tap." With that he dispatched his orderly-sergeant for the desired article. "And a good time was had by all," ending in the sergeant-cook linking the once angry but now well-mollified dugout back to his own quarters some hours later. It is men like Jerry Porter, of the 15th North Aucklands, who did so much to make life a bit easier under difficult circumstances. He will be missed by a wide circle of friends. It is a safe bet that he also earned whole-hearted feelings of goodwill amongst his Aussie comrades, to whom the resourcefulness and courage of the "old-timer" can only have been an inspiration. To few is it given, as it was to Jerry, to receive a little of the limelight, and be thought so well of and be so widely known. To his relatives we extend our sincere sympathy.   -Auckland Star, 13/7/1940.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin

And here is the 1939 story -

The Irate Colonel — And A Barrel Of Stout

By W.H.A.

THE battalion was in tents for the most part, except those for whom more enterprising company commanders had raided dumps to provide comfortable quarters. The propensity of Fritz to air raids at night prohibited the use of braziers in tents, since the glow from these created a guide to the enemy airmen. However, the usually sacrosanct area of the cookhouse was open to the "old hands," most of whom had been on Gallipoli. 

We Want. . . " 

On Christmas Eve there was the usual gathering of these old hands at the cookhouse. The need of something to produce a Christmas spirit was sadly bemoaned, for it did not seem Christmas without it. One of the more alert of the crowd informed his cobbers that a neighbouring Tommy labour battalion was known to have seven barrels of stout — pre-war stuff at that — provided by its colonel. 

This colonel was one of the "pukka" type, retired before the war, back on the job now, who cared for his men with all the attention he might bestow on his own household at home. To think was to act. No sooner than the information concerning the stout had been imparted, it was suggested a tarpaulin muster be made to provide the necessary funds to purchase one of these barrels. The result of the collection was nothing generous, for funds were low. Nothing daunted, delegates were immediately selected, to approach the commanding officer of the labour battalion. In less time than it takes to tell, these were on their way.. 

"We Will Have..."

Arriving at the Tommies' camp, the place seemed deserted, a sentry on the canteen being the only to be seen. The party's mission was explained to the sentry. With all the reluctance of the Tommy to approach his superior officer in such a matter, the sentry refused to take them to his colonel. "In any case, he could not be disturbed, for he was at a concert," quoth he on sentry, go.

"We Must Have"

The need was great. The sentry was told to stand aside, which he wisely did. The barrels of stout were found, and before you could say "Jack Robinson" one was being rolled across the snow and ice, on the way to our cookhouse. 

"We Have ...!" 

The arrival of the barrel revived drooping spirits at the cookhouse. "Fill 'em up, boys." Soon the Christmas spirit had arrived in another sense. The lack or a tap for the barrel made no difference, for what did not go in the mug must go on the ground. "There's more where that one came from." "Sante." "Kia Ora."

"Who Has ... ?" 

Despite the difficulties of the barman, the party progressed merrily. Presently there appeared an angry looking colonel, attended by a sergeant. "Who has taken my men's stout?" he demanded, informing them, at the same time, that it had been procured by him for his own men's comfort. One of the cooks informed the infuriated officer that he was responsible, adding his regret that there was no tap, which caused "a sad waste of good stout." This but further enraged the officer, if such was indeed possible. "Arrest this man! I cannot allow such conduct." 

The Diplomat 

Things looked anyhow. 

The master cook was now to play his part. Not for nothing had he three years of active service. He was to prove himself not only as master cook, but a diplomat of no mean order. Calling to his aid all he had learned, he poured a tale into the colonel's ear, stressing that most of those present were old hands — on Gallipoli — no Christmas comforts — and so on, telling him that the whose arrest he had ordered wore on his tunic evidence of his soldierly qualities and service. 

"We All Have ...!" 

The colonel was mollified. "Well, whatever the cause, I'm not going to have my stout wasted. Sergeant, get a tap." The orderly sergeant disappeared to carry out the order, the colonel meanwhile refusing to accept the proffered payment from the tarpaulin muster. The tap duly arrived. Everyone, including the colonel, settled down to enjoy themselves. Several hours Inter the colonel was escorted home by the master cook, each volubly I assuring the other of eternal friendship.   -Auckland Star, 4/2/1939.

IN MEMORIAM

For the Empire’s Cause 

PORTER. — In loving memory of Claude William Porter, accidentally killed, Capetown,  June 26, 1940, en route to England with Australian Infantry Battalion, and David Porter, killed in action, Somme, 1916. “Their duty done.”   -Otago Daily Times, 6/6/1941.