World War II veteran Roy Porter celebrates 100th birthday

Roy Porter was just 17 when he marched off to war. Now, he is about to celebrate his 100th birthday.

Ocean Grove's Roy Porter is tuning 100 and still lives at home with his wife Norma. Picture: Alison Wynd

It’s been 82 years since Roy Porter jumped on a train to join the air force to fight for his country in World War II.

While many of his friends did not return from the battlefields, Mr Porter will mark his 100th birthday on April 8.

The former tail-gunner, born on April 8, 1925, will celebrate the milestone with his wife of more than seven decades, Norma Porter.

The couple live alone in their Ocean Grove home – complete with stairs and a balcony view over a lake.

Ocean Grove's Roy and Norma Porter at home. Picture: Alison Wynd

Mr Porter said his back ached at times, and his hearing wasn’t as good as it once was, but said both his and Mrs Porter’s minds remained as sharp as ever.

Mr Porter was just 21 and had recently returned from World War II when he first met his soon-to-be wife, then 18.

Mrs Porter, 94, said their wedding at a Presbyterian Church in Brunswick in 1949 was one of her clearest memories.

Since that day, the couple raised a family and made a lifetime of memories together.

Ocean Grove's Roy and Norma Porter on their wedding day. Picture: Alison Wynd

Mr Porter said his recollections of war remained his most vivid and haunting memories.

He was only 17 when he joined the war effort on June 18, 1943.

“The war changed everything,” he said.

“I became a little boy to a man in that time.”

Ocean Grove's Roy Porter toasting his 100th birthday. Picture: Alison Wynd

The Coburg-raised boy left school at 14, the year the war started, and joined the Air Training Corps shortly after.

At 17, he spent eight months training on the east coast of Australia.

A year later, he was hand-picked as a gunner for the RAAF’s 18 Squadron, “The Dutch Cleanser”, known for sinking Japanese ships.

The Squadron consisted of Dutch airmen who had escaped to Australia after the Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies.

“They had a squadron there that didn’t have enough men, so they recruited Australians to go with them.”

He lost friends, and his faith in the war, he said.

“My very good friend was beheaded,” he said.

“He got shot down and the Japanese captured him and they chopped his head off.

“So there is no God, no.”

But his body, is seems, hasn’t carried the same scars that still weigh heavy on his heart.

“I remind him if it’s just his back, he’s doing very well at his age,” Mrs Porter said.

“His mother was 101 when she died, he’s still young.”

Mr Porter said the couple had lived happy and successful lives.

And they’ve watched the world change together.

“What hasn’t changed? Everything’s different now, transport, certainly aircraft flying is a big thing,” he said.

“Everything’s changed. Everything has.”

Originally published as World War II veteran Roy Porter celebrates 100th birthday