Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Suevic’ A29 for UK 6.6.1916.
Roll Rank Private
Roll Unit ‘B’ Company, 44th Battalion.
Portener disembarked with the 44th Bn. at Plymouth. He was appointed L/Cpl. prior to embarking for overseas 22.11.1916. The 44th Bn proceeded to France via Southampton 25.11.1916. They marched in to the 3rd Davison Training School 28.1.1917. He marched out to his 44th Infantry Bn. and was taken on strength. The Bn. spent a very cold winter moving between the Front Line, training and labouring to the rear of the line. The 44th Bn attempted an enemy raid on 13th March into enemy trenches at Armentieres. This raid was not successful due to the high rate of casualties/ (9 KIA, 42 wounded. 12 missing). Portener was wounded in action  at Ploegsteer 30.3.1917 and was appointed T/Cpl. 30.3.1917. The Bn. lost many men in the months they fought at Ypres, Messines and Broodseinde. Portener reverted to rank of L/Cpl. 9.7.1917 and then reverted to rank of Private 17.7.1917. In October 1917, the 44th Bn. fought at Polygon Wood and in Ypres. By early March 1918, the German Army commenced their Spring Offensive. The 44th Bn. was rushed to France to protect the railways at Amiens. It was in this confrontation that Portener was KIA 27.5.1918 (Western Mail 9.8.1918). He was bombed by an aircraft when in a boat and drowned in the River Somme near Amiens (West Australian Newspapers 25.6.1918). He was buried nearby. His remains were later re interred to the Villers-Bretonneux Cemetery, France. Plot 10, Row D, Grave 9. Portener is commemorated at the Villers-Bretonneux Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.
Final Rank Private, 44th Bn AIF.
Medical Condition Deceased, KIA.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes The 44th Bn. was raised in Claremont, WA. in February 1916. It became part of the 11th Bde., 3rd Australian Division and was known as ‘Old Bill’s Thousand’.
Grace Brunette Portener (nee Barker) and husband resided with her mother Mrs Elizabeth Barker at 87 James Street, Guildford. The property was variously used for boarding orasa private hospital. Portener’s siblings incuded William, James (served in WW1) Fred, Casper, Leonard and sisters Florrie, Jessie, Lottie and Jean. Portener’s widow remarried 1923 (Mrs.G. B. Blight).

Photos V.R. Portner Western Mail 9.8.1918 p7
              HMAT 'Suevic'. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM A03216
              Ploegsteert, Belgium 1917. British Army soldiers pumping water from a trench.. Photograph donor British Offical Photograph No. D705. Photograph source AWM H09026
              Attack on Polygon Wood 1917. Postcard by Colart Studio 1921, image courtesy AWM P0538.00
              Australian soldiers bathing in the Somme near Amiens 1918. Photograph purchased from C. Wadeson, photograph source AWM H17003
              Graves at Villers-Bretonneux Cemetery 1919. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E04404

Information Source
AWM A03216. HMAT 'Suevic'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM H09026. Ploegsteert, Belgium 1917. British Army soldiers pumping water from a trench.. Photograph donor British Offical Photograph No. D705. Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P0538.00. Attack on Polygon Wood 1917. Postcard by Colart Studio 1921, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM H17003. Australian soldiers bathing in the Somme near Amiens 1918. Photograph purchased from C. Wadeson, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E04404. Graves at Villers-Bretonneux Cemetery 1919. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll- Victor Randolph Portener
AWM Roll of Honour – Victor Randolph Portener
NAA: B2455 Portener Victor Randolph
St Matthew’s Honour Roll
St Matthew’s HR –Fallen
West Australian Newspapers
Western Mail
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories

87 James Street, Guildford, WA.

Associated Images