The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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210795 CSM. Frank Edward Porter MID. British Army 4th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment from:Sturminster Newton, Dorset Frank Porter served with D Coy, 4th Battalion, the Dorsets from early 1930 thro'to 1945.The 4th were a Territional Regiment of volunteer soldiers. Prior to D-Day+4 he trained with his men around bases in the South of England. The main and final camp was at St.Martins Plain,Folkstone,Kent. Invasion for them was at the time of the "Great Storm" in the Channel just before the break-up of the Mulberry Harbour at Arromanche. Just the first of many hair-raising exploits I was to find out over time in the war over Europe. Wherever the fighting was the hardest the 4th Dorsets were in the thick of it!! But Old Frank made it through. The toughest test was in September 1944 at a small Dutch town call Arnhem. The 4th were, as in army parlance "volunteered", for the suicidal rescue of the remaining Parachute Brigade. No words could convey the horrors or the heroism of that night of all who took part in the action. Frank said "It was down to a tin of bullybeef and some fags". He forgot to mention he was Mentioned in Despatches for what he alone did. The heavy fighting continued right to the very end of the war with no let-up and a great many casualties.Frank's re-enforcements were largely 18-19 year old "Brummies", Dorset dialect and Birmingham accents!! Bet that confused the "Jerry". The post-script to Frank's military career was on Lindenburgh Heath with the Battalion lined-up to give him a "Military General Salute" and a rousing farewell. Frank and Lil (his devoted wife) supported the RBL and attended all Regimental Re-unions until his death. S.A.Jenkins Add to this record.  Related Content: 4th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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