LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWI

Corporal George Henry Port
48th Bde Ammunition Col, Royal Field Artillery

Town Memorial P6.R1.C3

Taken, Not Given, Liam Sumption, L&DLHS

Cpl
George H Port
Royal Field
Artillery
France
Jan 11 1916

The only other information available is contained in the Parish magazine issue of February 1916. This gives his Christian names as George Henry and confirms that he was killed 'in Flanders' on the date given on the War Memorial. (1)

Like the War Memorial his rank is given as Corporal, whereas the Artillery equivalent of this grade is Bombardier.

Notes on sources
1. Parish Magazine of St Mary and St Nicholas, Leatherhead May 1915 and February 1916 (courtesy of Mr L Anstee of the parish)

Stop press
Soldiers Who Died in the Great War – (Royal Artillery) gives George Henry Port, No.95694, rank Corporal R.F.A.
Born Epsom
Enlisted Kingston upon Thames
Killed in action France and Flanders, 11 Jan 1916

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Further research

Corporal
PORT, G
Service Number 95694
Died 11/01/1916
Aged 23
48th Bde. Ammunition Col.
Royal Field Artillery
Husband of Mrs. H Gladys Page (formerly Port), of 10313, 96th Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
INSCRIPTION
AT REST HE GAVE HIS LIFE THAT OTHERS MIGHT LIVE
Buried at DUHALLOW A.D.S. CEMETERY
Location: West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
Cemetery/memorial reference: VII. C. 8.

He enlisted at Kingston-on Thames, Surrey and he joined the Royal Field Artillery. He was serving as a Corporal in the 48th Brigade Ammunition column when he was killed in action in 1916.

Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser
Saturday 29 January 1916

War Casualties.
Mrs. Port, Woodbridge, Kingston-road, Leatherhead, has had a notification that her husband, Corpl. G. H. Port, of the R.F.A. was killed with a German shell in Flanders on the 11th. Deceased, who was the eldest son of Mr. G. Port, of Leatherhead, was only twenty-four years of age, and had been married just over a year. He had joined the Army for the duration of the war, and met his death through being struck in the head with a shell whilst he was having his dinner.

Surrey Advertiser
Saturday 18 November 1916

LEATHERHEAD TOWN BAND.
The annual meeting of the Leatherhead Town Band was held on Friday evening last week, in the Church-room, the Vicar (Rev. T. F. Hobson) in chair. The report for the past year stated that the band had had a busy and progressive year, turning out on fifty occasions. The promenade concerts had been the most prominent feature, financially and socially, having exceeded all expectations. As result, they had been able to forward the sum of £10 the Cottage Hospital and £10 to the funds of the Queen's Nursing Association. The band had also assisted the local Volunteers in their recruiting marches and Church parades. No fewer than ten members of the band had joined the colours — Corpl. G. H. Port and Pte. W. Bussey having given their lives for King and country. ... 

Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser
Saturday 30 December 1916

ROLL OF HONOUR. BRAVE SURREY MEN FALLEN IN THE WAR.
LEATHERHEAD AND DISTRICT
JANUARY.
PORT, Corpl. G. H., R.F.A.. killed by a shell, Jan. 11th, son of Mr. G. Port, of Woodbridge, Kingston-road. Leatherhead.

His life

George Henry Port was born on 6 April 1892, Leatherhead, Surrey and baptised on 29 May 1892 at St Mary and St Nicholas, Leatherhead's Parish Church. In the 1911 Census, age 19, he was a Gardener's Lad.

His father was also a George Port born 1868, from Stoke d'Abernon, Surrey. At the time of George Henry's christening he was a Cowman but was also a Labourer of various kinds. In the 1911 Census he was 'a British subject by parentage'. He was a son of George Port (1844-1908), a Shepherd from Froyle, Hampshire and Ann Smithers (1845-1928) from Wisley, Surrey.

His mother was Jane Steer born 1870, from Capel Surrey. She was a daughter of Eli Steer (1839-1919), an  Agricultural Labourer from  Wisborough Green, Sussex, and Mary Ann Worsfold b 1845.

They were married at Leatherhead Parish Church on 16 May 1891.

His siblings were: Eva Kathleen (1894-1963), William John Ernest (born & died 1898), Edith Kate Alice Mary (b 1899 d 1900), Elsie (1902-1989), Frank John (1903-1970), Louisa (1907-1979).

George lived at:
1892: baptism: Gravel Hill, Leatherhead
1901 Census: Gravel Hill (west side), Leatherhead: the dwelling was shared with Henry Penfold and his wife Kate
1911 Census: Gravel Hill, Leatherhead: Leonard Penfold aged 15, a Greengrocer's Assistant was boarding with the Ports.

He married Harriett Gladys Noakes on 2 January 1915 at St Mary and St Nicholas, Leatherhead. She was born in 1895 in Hawley, Hampshire. She was a daughter of  David Noakes (1866-1941) from Yateley, Hampshire, a Railway Platelayer and Elizabeth Ann Ford (1868-1938) from Reading, Berkshire, antecedents unknown.

At the time of their marriage their address was 2 Woodbridge, Kingston Road, Leatherhead, Surrey.

George had four uncles serving in WW1: they all appear to have survived:

Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser
Saturday 6 November 1915

Leatherhead has good reason to be proud of the number men from the town who have joined the Army, and this week it has been brought to our notice that two well-known families have four sons serving with the Colours. Mrs. G. Port's four sons have seen a good deal active service. [the other family was the Penfold family: see also the Taylor family]

BOMBARDIER A. PORT. Bombardier Albert Port, of the Royal Horse Artillery, was one of the original Expeditionary Force. He was wounded at the Battle of Mons and was invalided to England. In March last he was sufficiently recovered proceed to the Dardanelles, where he has been ever since.		SAPPER C. PORT Sapper Charlie Port, who is in the Royal Engineers, is also on active service in France.
DRIVER J. PORT. Driver John Port, of the Royal Garrison Artillery, took part in the Soudan Campaign under Kitchener in 1898, and also went through the South African War. When the war broke out he at once re-enlisted and went out with the Expeditionary Force. He saw some of the most sanguinary fighting, and after being in France eleven months he was wounded in both shoulders and the left hand, and is now in hospital in England.		CORPORAL W PORT Corpl Wm Port went through the Sudan War with Lord Kitchener in 1898 and is now serving in France in the AVC.

After WW1

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records state his wife as Harriett Gladys Page formerly Port of 10313, 96th Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

A Canadian Active Service Force Attestation dated 9 February 1940 for John Herbert Page, born 10 October 1917 in Blackwater, Hampshire, originally cited his next of kin as his mother, Harriett Gladys Page, with a 101 Street address in Edmonton.

The marriage of Harriett Gladys Port to John H Page was registered in Ipswich District, Suffolk, England in January 1917. There is an undated Surrey, England, Church of England Baptism record for John Herbert Page, parents John Henry Page and Harriet Gladys Page.

George Port is remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church
Ladies War Shrine, Leatherhead Parish Church
Church Lads Brigade Memorial Tryptich, All Saints Leatherhead
Surrey in the Great War

the website editor would like to add further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, and of any recollections within his family

last updated 18 Nov 20