Pte 15260 William Porter

• Age: 27
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• Died Wednesday 19th April 1916
• Commemorated at: Toxteth Park Cem Liverpool
  Panel Ref: K748

William Porter, was born on 22nd May 1888 and was the only son of Moses and Mary Ellen (‘Nellie’) (nee Fletcher), who married in Liverpool in 1886. William was baptised at St Michael's Church, Upper Pitt Street, Liverpool on 10th July 1888. His father, Moaes was described as a Gentleman and the family lived at 18 Coltart Road, Liverpool.  

In the 1891 Census, Moses, aged 27 years, born in Egremont, Cumberland, is said to be “living on his own means”, and lives with his wife, two children (William aged 2 years and his elder sister, Nellie, aged 4 years), his brother in law, his wife and 2 servants at 37 Coltart Road, Toxteth, Liverpool. Moses’s brother in law, married to Moses’s sister, is said to be an analytical chemist. 

That same year, 1891, Moses died and in 1894 Mary Ellen married again, to William Wightman Moffitt, in Liverpool.

The 1901 Census finds William as 12 year old scholar as an inmate of the Blue Coat Hospital, School Lane, Liverpool.

The 1911 Census shows Mary Ellen Moffitt, married and of independent means, living with her 2 children, Nellie and William Porter, at 31 Ampthill Road, Aigburth, Liverpool, when William is 22 years old and a clerk in the cotton industry.

Prior to the war he was employed by Messrs.Layton and Martle, of George Street.

William Porter, Private 15260 enlisted on 01st September 1914 giving his age as 26 years and 91 days, his occupation as a Cotton Salesman. He was described as being 5"9 inches tall, and weighed 137 lbs. He was of a dark complexion with brown eyes and black hair.

He served in France from 07th November 1915 but returned home on 08th February 1916 and discharged from service on 18th March 1916 as no longer physically fit for war service.

The report on his discharge says that he felt unwell on 03rd January 1916 suffering from shortness of breath. He was treated at a hospital in Rouen before transferring home to Southwark Military Hospital where he was diagnosed as suffering from Phthisis, described as pulmonary tuberculosis. This disease had killed his father. His mother is shown as Mary Porter and an address of 2 Eastfield Drive, Aigburth has been struck out and repalced as Taunton, The Park, Hampstead, London. this is also the address shown on William's discharge papers.

His Medal Index Card shows he earned all three medals.

However. neither CWGC nor SDGW  have a record for William though Graham Maddocks shows him having died on 19^th April 1916 and having been buried in Toxteth Park Cemetery, Liverpool. 

Records for Toxteth Park Cemetery show that both Moses Porter (‘Gentleman’) and William Porter, a 27 year old salesman are buried together in Grave K748. Alongside each of their names are the words “Belfayre Jubilee Formby”.

A notice in the Liverpool Echo advised that William Porter had succumbed to illness:

PORTER: At Befayre, Jubilee Road, Formby, William Porter (1st City Pals) the dearly loved only son of Mrs Nellie Porter of Aigburth. (Funeral arrangements later).

A second notice was posted which advised:

Interment at Smithdown - road Cemetery 12 noon (Saturday).

William is commemorated on the Cotton Association Memorial now housed at Walker House, Liverpool.  

We are happy to report that we contacted CWGC and in January 2023 received news that our Non-Commemoration case submission (NC 11311), pertaining to 15260 Private William Porter of The King's (Liverpool Regiment) was accepted for commemoration at a recent Adjudication Board with the relevant military service authority.

Steps have been taken to commemorate this individual as a war casualty and William now has a listing on the CWGC Casualty Database, which can now be accessed.