Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Australian Remembrance Army

Australian World War One veteran Driver Frank Walter Porter, who served as Francis Porter (Service No. 1729), is among almost 800 previously unmarked WWI veterans’ graves in Lutwyche Cemetery we have now marked with plaques in recognition of their service for Australia.

We unveiled his plaque in Lutwyche Cemetery on 16 May 2026, along with a further 185 plaques on the previously unmarked graves of Australian World War One veterans:
See Australian Remembrance Army Facebook page

Frank Walter Porter was born on 8 July 1885 at Coorparoo, Brisbane, Queensland, and served under the name Francis Porter. His registered name at birth was Frank Waters Porter.

Francis Porter enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Brisbane, Queensland, on 4 June 1915, stating his occupation as labourer and nominating his friend, Mrs Davis of Deep Creek, Esk, Queensland, as his next of kin. On 20 August 1915, he embarked for overseas service from Sydney, New South Wales, aboard HMAT Shropshire.

Porter served at Gallipoli, where he was taken on strength on 17 October 1915. Within days he became ill, with his casualty records referring to measles and later recording that he was sick and disembarked at Malta on 24 October 1915. He was treated in Malta, before being discharged to the Lines of Communication on 30 November 1915. After being found fit for active service, he embarked for Egypt and rejoined his battalion at Ismailia on 10 January 1916.

In early 1916, Porter was promoted to Driver. He proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Force, embarking from Alexandria on 14 March 1916 and disembarking at Marseilles, France, on 19 March 1916. During his service in France, he was treated for illness, including lumbago in 1917 and 1918, and was granted English leave in 1917 and again in September 1918. In late 1918, he transferred into transport duties, being attached to and then taken on strength with the 2nd Australian Divisional Train.

In February 1919, while in England, Porter was admitted sick and diagnosed with fibrositis at Hurdcott. He was later returned to Australia, with one casualty record noting return per Tras-os-Montes in April 1919, and his service record recording that he disembarked at Brisbane on 19 July 1919.

Following his return to Australia, Porter continued to live in Queensland and work as a labourer. He was later associated with the Kingaroy district, including Rocky Creek via Kingaroy. By 1950, repatriation records show him as single, aged 65, and applying for medical treatment and surgical aid for serious eye conditions. His records noted removal of the right eye after a penetrating injury in 1944, glaucoma in 1948, and increasing loss of sight in the left eye. He was assessed for cataract and chronic glaucoma, but his application for acceptance of cataract of the left eye as a war-related disability was rejected in July 1950.
By 1954, Frank was a resident of Eventide Nursing Home, Sandgate, Brisbane.

Driver Frank Walter Porter, who served as Francis Porter, died at Brisbane Hospital on 7 August 1957, aged 72, and was buried two days later in Anzac Portion 9, Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane.

He was unmarried with no known children.

After almost seven decades without recognition at his place of burial, his grave now bears a plaque commemorating his service to Australia — ensuring his name endures among those remembered for their duty and sacrifice. His identity and dignity have now been restored.

We have remembered him.
Lest We Forget