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Gordon Archibald Port

Warrant Officer - Royal Air Force - 108 Squadron - Service No. 1333315

Background Information

Born

25th June 1921

Academics

Rank

Warrant Officer - Royal Air Force - 108 Squadron - Service No. 1333315

Campaigns

Died

12th August 1944 age 23

Gordon Archibald Port was born on 25th June 1921 in Strood, Kent. His father was Archibald Stanley Port, an Engineer, and his mother was Dorothy Laura (née Mackie). The first school that he attended was Rosherville School in Gravesend.
In 1932 Gordon Port joined The County School for Boys – now known as Gravesend Grammar School. The Head Master at that time was the Reverend Samuel Lister. The County School for Boys was located in Darnley Road, Gravesend close to the Railway Station (now the Victoria Centre for Education). In 1938 the School moved to brand new premises in Church Walk, Milton, Gravesend opposite to Milton Church.
The School’s Admission Register lists Gordon’s address as 32 London Road, Northfleet, Gravesend. Whilst at the School, Gordon was in Cliff House, he was awarded a Progress Prize in 1938, played in the County School Orchestra and was a member of the Harriers Sports Club. One older brother, Donald (born 1919) and a younger brother Stuart, (born 1924) also attended the School. Stuart served as a Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy during World War Two.
In 1937 Gordon left the School and started work for the GPO in Gravesend. In World War Two he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves, becoming a Warrant Officer with 108 Squadron, Service Number 1333315.
108 Squadron were engaged in operations in the Middle East, Gordon was a night fighter pilot. On 12th August 1944, Gordon Port crashed into the sea and was killed when the engine of his aircraft stalled. He was 23 years old. He is remembered at the Alexandria (Chatby), Military & War Cemetery, Egypt.

There are links below to Newspaper Clippings and Photographs from the Gravesend Grammar School Archives.
Below are links to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and a few other websites that might be of interest:
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2112807/port,-gordon-archibald/
http://aircrewremembered.com/port-gordon.html
http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/108_wwII.html
https://wartimememoriesproject.com/ww2/allied/royalairforce/sqdview.php?pid=307

Alexandria (Chatby), Military & War Cemetery, Egypt