Porter, Milson John

3269 Driver Milson John Howard Porter - 1st Light Horse Signal Troop/Squadron

Milson John Howard Porter was born in Fremantle in 1893 to John and Catherine Porter. He had a younger sister Emmeline born in 1896. The family were living in Chester Park Central Avenue Beaconsfield (now 6 Central Ave)

Milson was educated locally at White Gum Valley Primary School and after leaving school he took up work as a body maker/wagon maker.

In 1916 in Perth Milson married Florence Beatrice Newman, and a son Jack was born in 1917. 

On the 19th July 1916 Milson enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in Fremantle. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 9 inches tall;

Weight - 145lbs;

Chest Measurement - 34-36 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Dark.

Upon his successful enlistment, Milson was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.82 Training Depot. He only had a few days there and was then transferred into the 18th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion. He spent another week there but requested a transfer to the Light Horse. Milson was then sent to 6 Depot Squadron for specialised Light Horse Training.

He was then transferred into the 26th Reinforcements to the 9th Light Horse Regiment. He trained with this group in WA until February 1917 when they embarked from Fremantle Harbour aboard the transport ship RMS Morea.

The ship sailed from Fremantle and went to India where the troops disembarked at Bombay. They then transferred to another ship the Mashobra and on the 17th March 1917 set sail for Egypt, arriving at Suez on the 4th April 1917.

The men were then disembarked and sent to the Light Horse Details Camp at Moascar. Milson spent a month there but instead of joining the 9th Light Horse Regiment he transferred to the 1st Australian Light Horse Signal Squadron and was given the rank of Driver.

The squadron was responsible for maintaining communications between the front line units and Light Horse HQ. Milson served in operations at Gaza, Beersheba and Jerusalem in 1917.

On the 27th February 1918 Milton was sent on detachment to the 2nd Light Horse Brigade HQ, and on the 6th April 1918 was then sent to the Imperial Camel Corps HQ. In May 1918 he returned to the 1st Signal Squadron and saw out the remainder of the war with this unit.

In February 1919 Milton was hospitalised with jaundice at the 24th Stationary Hospital at Kantara and was then transferred to the 14th Australian General Hospital at Kantara. He was also diagnosed with debility and the medical authorities advised that Milton be returned home.

On the 14th March 1919 at Suez, Milton boarded the transport ship Euripides and set sail for Australia, reaching Fremantle on the 19th April 1919. 

On his return to Fremantle, Milton was sent to the No.8 Australian General Hospital Annexe at the Artillery Barracks.

He was discharged from the AIF on the 22nd May 1919.

He then returned home to Florence and Jack and another son called Lyall was born in 1922, followed by Irene in 1924 and Joan in 1929.

Through 1920's and 30's the family lived at 3 York Street South Fremantle.

Milson had been working as a coach builder but then moved to be a motor body builder. The family were then living at 27 Osborne Road East Fremantle.

Milson died in Melville on the 8th May 1978 aged 84. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery Plot Anglican Lawn B 0140.