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D/SSX 19264
Able Seaman
John George Porter
1918/08/09 - Born Sunderland
Son of Henry and Catherine Porter, of Monkswearmouth, Sunderland, Co. Durham
Royal Navy
HMS Exeter
Service
The building of HMS Exeter was started on the 1st August 1928 at the Devonport Dockyard, Plymouth. She was launched on 18th July 1929 and completed on 27th July 1931.
HMS Exeter
Exeter had a pair of catapults (although only one aircraft could be carried at a time) angled out from amidships, with the associated crane stepped to starboard.
In 1932, Exeter had side plating added amidships to the upper deck to enclose her open main deck as far as the after funnel
In 1935 the single 2-pounder guns were replaced by Vickers machine guns.
As war threatened HMS Exeter’s modifications saw the replacement of the single 4 inch (102 mm) guns with modern twin Mark XVI guns, a single 20mm Oerlikon gun was added to both 'B' and 'X' roof turrets. Radar Type 286 air warning was added requiring the pole masts to be replaced by tripods, this primitive metric set had separate Tx and Rx aerials , one at each masthead. Radar Type 284 was fitted to the director control tower atop the bridge to provide ranging information and spot fall of shot.
In 1939, HMS Exeter formed part of the South American Division and together with HMS Ajax and HMS Achilles engaged theGerman pocket battle ship ‘Admiral Graf Spee’ at the Battle of the River Plate on 13th December 1939. This action resulted in the scuttling of the Admiral Graf Spee several days later. Exeter suffered 61 crew members killed with a further 23 injured.
Exeter made for Port Stanley in the Falklands for emergency repairs which were completed January 1940, she then returned to Devonport for full repairs over fourteen months between February 1940 and March 1941. That she survived such damage from direct hits with large calibre shells is a testament to her design and construction, as well as the damage control efforts of her crew.
Japan entered the war on the 8th December 1941. Exeter was then part of the American-British-Dutch-Australian Naval Command, formed in January 1942, which was intended to defend the Dutch East Indies from Japanese invasion. This led to the HMS Exeter being attacked and sunk in the Battle of the Java Sea. The survivors were picked up the Japanese and became prisoners of war.
Japan entered the war on 8th December 1941, Exeter formed part of the the American-British-Dutch-Australian Naval Command formed in January 1942 which was intended to defend the Dutch East Indies from Japanese invasion.
After Singapore fell on 15th February 1942. The Japanese amphibious forces gathered to attack Java. Seeing the Japanese intention, on 27th February the American-British-Dutch-Australian Force was gathered under Rear Admiral Karel Doorman and sailed Northwest from Surabaya to intercept the Japanese approaching from the Makassar Straight to attack Java from the East.
The American-British-Dutch-Australian Naval Command included:-
Heavy Cruisers:- HMS Exeter (Six 8 inch guns) and USS Houston (Six 8 inch guns remaining operable).
Light Cruisers:- HNLMS De Ruyter, HNLMS Java and HMAS Perth
Nine Destroyers:- HMS Electra, HMS Encounter, HMS Jupiter, HNLMS Kortenger, HNLMS Witte de With, USS Alden, USS John D. Edwards, USS John D. Ford and USS Paul Jones.
The Japanese task force which protected the landing convoy was commanded by Rear Admiral Takeo Takag and include:-
Heavy Cruisers:- Nachi, and Haguro. (Ten 8 inch guns and torpedoes)
Light Cruisers:- Naka and Jints.
Destroyers:- Yudachi, Samidare, Murasame, Harusame, Minegumo, Asagumo, Yukikaze, Tokitsuikaze, Amatsukaze, Hatsukaze, Yamakaze, Sazanami and Ushio.
The prime target of the Allied fleet was to destroy the Japanese landing craft and the Japanese task force which was protecting the landing craft.
Java Sea
On the 27th February at 16.00 the Allied Fleet and the Japanese Task Force met in the Java Sea, Exeter’s shells failed to reach their targets, and Exeter was badly damaged by an enemy 8 inch shell in the boiler room, killing many of the crew. Unable to continue HMS Exeter disengaged and slowly limped back to Surabaya where her dead were removed for burial.
After the withdrawal of Exeter, the Japanese gained the upper hand sinking HNLMS Kortenger and causing damage to HMS Electra, who was covering Exeter’s retreat, fires then raged on Electra causing her to be abandoned. The Allied Fleet had to disengage at 18.00 and return to Surabaya with a smoke screen laid by US Destroyers.
After emergency repairs were carried out on HMS Exeter, she left Surabaya for Ceylon on the 28th February, limping towards the Sunda Strait escorted by HMS Encounter and USS Pope. On the 1st March the Second Battle of the Java Sea took place when they were attacked by the Japanese Heavy Cruisers, Nachi, Haguri and Ashigara.
The HMS Exeter stood no chance at her reduced speed. Exeter was soon badly damaged by gunfire and a torpedo from the destroyer Inazuma. Taking on water she began to list to starboard, by noon on the same day she sank along with her supporting destroyer HMS Encounter. Although the US Pope escaped she soon after sunk by Japanese Aircraft.
About 800 Allied seamen, including the commander of Exeter, Captain O.L. Gordon, became prisoners of war and were shipped to Makassar.
Japanese PoW
1942/03/01 - Captured after the HMS Exeter was sinking
PoW No. J-282
Japanese Index Card - Side One
Japanese Index Card - Side Two
1944/12/01 - Reported sick at Makassar, Celebes
Died
Age 28
Died from diphtheria
17th March 1945
Loved Ones
Son of Henry and Catherine Porter, of Monkswearmouth, Sunderland, Co. Durham
Memorial
29.D.12
Ambon War Cemetery
Indonesia
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Pacific Star
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War Medal
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1939-1945 Star
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Far East Medals
"ON WHOSE SOUL SWEET JESUS HAVE MERCY" MOTHER AND FAMILY. R.I.P.
Information
James Tull - Supplied John’s photo in uniform
Tom Jowett - Supplied grave plaque photo
HMS Exeter
Ambon War Cemetery
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
KEW Files:- WO 345/41, WO 392/25,
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