Name
Arthur Proctor
3 Jun 1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/07/1916
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
35898
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
69th Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 5 C and 12 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Wilstone Village Memorial, Not on the Tring memorials, Not on the Long Marston memorials
Pre War
Arthur Proctor was born in Gubblecote, Tring on 3 Jun 1886 (baptised 27 Jun 1889) to George Proctor, agricultural labourer, and Jane (nee Oakley).
On the 1881 Census the family of parents, Mary A (born 1870), Carrie Selina (born 1873), Emma (born 1875), Orpah (born 1876), George H (born 1877) and Sarah E (born 1881) were living in Gubblecote, Tring.
Arthur’s father died in 1890.
On the 1891 Census the family of widowed mother Jane, Carrie and Orpha (dressmakers), George (farm labourer), Sarah, Ada (born 1883) and Arthur were still living in Gubblecote.
On the 1901 Census the family of mother, Carrie, Ada and Arthur had moved to Wilstone, Tring and they had acquired a boarder Thomas Edwards.
On the 1911 Census, Arthur and elder brother George were working as Canal labourers living with their mother and Carrie in Wilstone, Tring.
Wartime Service
Arthur attested on 24 Nov 1915 for the 4th Battalion, Bedforshire Regiment as Private 27067 and was placed on Army Reserve until he was mobilised on 3 Mar 1916 and transferred to the Machine Gun Corps as Private 35898.
Following his training at Harrowby Camp, Grantham he was posted overseas leaving Folkestone and landing at Boulogne on 25 Jun 1916 and arriving at Camiers (MGC base) on 26 Jun. Arthur was posted to 68 Company MGC on on 5 Jul and on 14 Jul to 69 Company. Both Companies were part of 23 Division who took part in the Battes of the Somme at Albert (1-13 Jul), Bazentin Ridge (14 -17 July) and Pozieres (23 Jul -3 Sep). Arthur was wounded probably in this last action, he died of wounds at 69 Field Ambulance on 29 Jul 1916.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £2 6s 4d was paid to his mother. Arthur is also commemorated on his family’s grave in Long Marston (All Saints) Churchyard. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO OF ARTHUR. HIS (George Proctor)
YOUNGER SON WHO DIED OF WOUNDS IN FRANCE. JULY 28TH(*). 1918 AGED 30 YEARS.
* Officially his death was recorded as 27th.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
