| John Porter was the son of John and Mary Porter.
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| John was born about 1916.
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| Known family: John Porter, Mary Porter, John Porter (born about 1916).
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| Prior to enlisting, John Porter lived at Union Road, Magherafelt.
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| John Porter enlisted in 1934 at the age of 17, joining the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
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| 1942
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| Private John Porter was injured in the summer of 1942.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 15th August 1942: Magherafelt
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| Mr and Mrs John Porter, of Union Road, Magherafelt, have received official intimation that their son, John Porter, of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, has been wounded and is in hospital in Burma (a battle casualty). In the letter was expressed the sympathy and regret of the Army Council.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 22nd August 1942: Magherafelt
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| Mr and Mrs John Porter, of Union Road, Magherafelt, have received official intimation that their son, John Porter, of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, has been wounded and is in hospital in Burma (war casualty). With the letter was expressed the sympathy and regret of the Army Council. Mr Porter, an ex-soldier who served in the Great War, has another son and a son-in-law on active service.
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| The Women’s Section of the British Legion met on Wednesday in the Legion Hall. Apologies were received from Mrs Hastings, Mrs Reynolds, Mrs Bell and Miss Finlay for their non-attendance. The annual election of officers resulted in all the officers being re-elected. On the proposal of Mrs McGuckin, seconded by Mrs Galway, two new members, Mrs Avril and Mrs Finn, were admitted. A vote of sympathy was paased on the motion of Mrs Keatley to Mrs Porter and family on the death of Lance Corporal J Porter, who was killed in North West Europe.
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| 1944
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| Private John Porter joined the King's Own Scottish Borderers in 1944.
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| Private John Porter was serving with the 5th Battalion of the King's Own Scottish Borderers when he was killed in action at Arnhem on Sunday 17th September 1944.
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| On that day a vast aerial armada delivered the greatest airborne assault in history. Almost 12,000 parachute and glider-borne troops landed to seize the bridge over the Rhine at Arnhem in Holland.
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| The 1st Airborne Division, aided by the Polish Parachute Brigade, struggled to reach and hold the bridge against relentless and ultimately successful counter-attacks by crack German troops. To the west of the town Johnny and his King’s Own Scottish Borderers took part in fierce fighting trying to cross the Meuse-Escaut Canal. After struggling across the first little stream, they had then to launch the boats into the canal. This involved hauling the craft up a steep bushy incline of 45 degrees for some 15 feet.
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| This is where Johnny's luck ran out as a counter attack was being made from the left flank. German machine gun fire was coming from the tow path at about 100 yards away and that was just a prelude to a massive attack with rifles and grenades which saw 97 killed, including Private Johnny Porter.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 28th October 1944: Magherafelt
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| Sincere sympathy is extended to the bereave family of Lance Corporal John Porter of Union Road, who has been reported by the Infantry Record Office to have been killed in the service of his country. He joined the Inniskilling Fusiliers at the age of 17 years, and was transferred to the King’s Own Scottish Borderers a few months ago, and at the age of 26 years, his death occurred somewhere in North West Europe.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 28th October 1944:
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| PORTER – Lance Corporal, King’s Own Scottish Borderers (K.O.S.B.), second son of Mr and Mrs John Porter of Union Road, Magherafelt. Reported killed in action in North West Europe. Inserted by his sorrowing father and mother.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 28th October 1944:
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| PORTER – Lance Corporal John Porter, King’s Own Scottish Borderers (K.O.S.B.), second son of Mr and Mrs John Porter of Union Road, Magherafelt. Reported killed in action in North West Europe. Inserted by his sorrowing sister and brother-in-law, V and H McKay, Moneymore.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 28th October 1944:
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| PORTER – Lance Corporal John Porter, King’s Own Scottish Borderers (K.O.S.B.), second son of Mr and Mrs John Porter of Union Road, Magherafelt. Reported killed in action in North West Europe. Inserted by his sorrowing sister and brother-in-law, K and H Hudson, also his little nephews, King Street, Magherafelt.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 4th November 1944:
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| 1945
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 15th September 1945: Roll of Honour
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| PORTER – In loving memory of Johnnie, killed in action in North West Europe, 17th September 1944. ‘The labours of a well spent life end in a great reward.’ Ever remembered by his sorrowing father and mother. Union Road, Magherafelt.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 15th September 1945:
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| PORTER – In loving memory of Johnnie, killed in action in North West Europe, 17th September 1944. ‘Age shall not weary, nor the years condemn.’ Ever remembered by his sister and brother-in-law, V and H McKay, Moneymore.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 15th September 1945:
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| PORTER – In loving memory of Johnnie, killed in action in North West Europe, 17th September 1944. ‘Forever with the Lord.’ Ever remembered by his sister and brother-in-law, K and H Hudson, Magherafelt; also little nephews.
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| Memorials
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| Private John Porter is buried in Kasterlee War Cemetery in Holland. This cemetery contains the graves of the men killed in the fighting associated with the crossing of the Meuse-Escaut Canal.
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| The CWGC record Private John Porter as the son of John and Mary Porter of Magherafelt, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
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