Roll of Honour
Private Ralph Porter
Also linked to: Weston-on-the-Green
Service Number: 10863
Regiment: Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (5th)
Conflict: World War One
Date of Death: 25th September 1915
Age at Death: 25
Burial/Memorial Location: Menin Gate Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Son of Albert & Charlotte Porter, of Neepawa, Manitoba, Canada. Native of Chesterton. Killed in action during the 2nd attack on Bellewaarde.
"Although news has not yet been received from the War Office, the parents of Private Ralph Porter (5th Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry), of Chesterton and formerly of Weston-on-the-Green, on Saturday received a letter from a chum of their son saying he had been killed.
The tragic note ran as follows: “It was Ralph’s wish that I should let you know if anything happened to him, and he was killed when we were attacking the Germans. We had captured their trenches and had got into them when Ralph was hit in the head, and died without any pain. Perhaps he has mentioned my name (B. Mason) in his letters to you, as I was his chum in England, and we stuck together always. I was younger than he, and he was always getting me out of trouble, and was never afraid to do anything. He was the best chum anyone could have.”
Pte. Porter was 25 years old, and enlisted on Aug. 29th of last year, being drafted to the Front in May of this year. The news of his death is received with regret by all who knew him in the district." Bicester Herald 08/10/1915