Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Published Biography

Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1, C Verco, A Summers, T Swain & M Jelly. July 2014

Additional Biography

Early Life

William Arthur Pryor was born on the 16th of October 1895 at Mundallio, near Port Augusta, South Australia, the son of William George Pryor and Mary Mowbray Richardson. William’s father was a pioneer grazier in the mid-north of South Australia.

Schooling

William attended Adelaide High School and passed his Primary Examinations in 1908 and won an exhibition. From 1909 to 1912, William attended St Peter’s College, Adelaide. He passed his Junior Examinations in 1910, Senior Examinations in 1911 and Higher Public Examinations in 1912.

University

William commenced studying science at Adelaide University In 1913 and passed physics and biology examinations that year. In 1914, William transfer to study medicine and won the Elder Prize for First Year medicine in December that year. However, in August 1915, with his mother’s permission he enlisted for service in WW1.

University Sport

Football
The Adelaide University B Grade football team include a Pryor or Prior in 1914 and 1915 according to newspaper reports. However, in 1914, three men with the surname Pryor attended the University (Eric John, James and William Arthur). At the time of writing this profile (October 2017), insufficient information was available to fully identify the B Grade player.

World War I

On the 25th August 1915, William enlisted and his war service is described in the ‘Blood, Swear and Fears’ biography above. However due to the need for more doctors, William was sent back to Australia onboard the Karmala, departing from London on 20th July 1916 to resume his medical studies. He was discharged on the 18th September 1916 after arriving in Adelaide.

Return to University

William returned to his medical studies in 1917 and by 1919 he was working at the Adelaide Hospital. William graduated MB BS in December 1919.

University Sport

Cricket
William played cricket for the Adelaide University B Grade in the 1919/20 season. As most players who served returned from overseas, the SACA resumed official competitions.

Career and Family Life

William took up golf in 1919 and played at the Adelaide Golf Club. He was among the spectators at the Inter-Varsity Cricket match in February 1920 and in July 1920, when living at Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town, he registered a 22.5 Ford.

In August 1921, William was living at Mallala and was appointed officer of health for the district of Dublin, SA.

In 1921, William married Phyllis Angela Field at Norwood, SA. In January 1922, the couple left Mallala to reside at Toorak, Melbourne. While living at Toorak Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, their son, William John Pryor was born on the 21st of October 1922.

After about a year in Melbourne, the Pryor’s returned to South Australia and William was appointed as officer of health for the district of Angaston in February 1923. William played golf at the Angaston Golf Club and was a Vice-President of the Angaston Federal Lawn Tennis Club.

In 1925, the Pryor’s daughter, Nancy Mowbray Pryor was born. In December 1925, William sold his practice at Angaston and commenced a practice at Bute, SA about a month later.

While at Bute, William was instrumental in the creation of the Bute Golf Club and was its Captain until November 1929. He competed in the Championship of the North in 1928 and won the handicap championship. William also competed in Country Championships while at Bute. The Pryor’s second son, Colin Hutson Pryor was born in 1928.

William played cricket for Bute and was their leading bowler in the 1927/28 and 1928/29 seasons.

The Pryor’s left Bute in November 1929 and William commenced a practice at Payneham Road, Payneham. He was appointed an honorary assistant visiting doctor for the Mareeba Babies’ Hospital and was Medical Superintendent of Minda Home from February 1933 to November 1935.
Back in the city, William continued to play golf and in 1932/33, he was the first chairman of the newly formed Adelaide Turf Cricket Association.

In 1936, William and Phyllis divorced and William moved to Victoria where he had a practice at Ballarat. From at least 1937, William was living at 125 Victoria Street, Ballarat. Sadly, for William, his father Mr. William G. Pryor passed away in November 1939. By January 1940, William’s mother had moved to Ballarat to live with William.

On the 9th of November 1940, William married Gladys Beryl Toyne (b 1904), a clerk, formerly of Geelong and the daughter of Harbert Toyne and Sarah Josine Hoare. William continued to enjoy golf and played at the Ballarat Golf Club.

World War II

William enlisted (SN V361335) and served in the reserves during WWII. He was on the honorary medical staff of the Ballarat Base Hospital from November 1941 in place of Dr. W.A. Baker on military service. William’s eldest son, William John Pryor, was a Medical Student when he enlisted in the AIF (SN SX15925) on the 16th of December 1941. Among other roles, William John Pryor was a hospital orderly in Port Moresby, and rose to the rank of Sergeant. He was discharged on the 12th of March 1946 and returned to his medical studies at Adelaide University. Both William’s sons, William John Pryor and Colin Hutson Pryor graduated MB BS from Adelaide University in 1952.

William John Pryor became engaged to Janet Laughton, the elder daughter of the late Mr. Arthur Laughton in March 1942. The couple married at St Peter’s College Chapel in February 1946.

Nancy (Nan) Mowbray Pryor became engaged to Peter Robert Freeman, the only son of Mrs. C. C. Freeman, of Brougham Place, North Adelaide in April 1946. They married in November 1946 and made their home at Naracoorte. Nan was studying for an Honours Degree, Bachelor of Arts at the time of her marriage.
On the 25th of August 1952, William Arthur Pryor was admitted as a Fellow (Faculty of Anaesthetists) of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

In January 1953, William’s younger son, Dr Colin Hutson Pryor, married Helen Mitchell at St John the Baptist, Missenden, Buckinghamshire, UK. They were still in the UK when their son, Tom was born in March 1954 and had not made plans to return to Australia at that stage.

Death

William Arthur Pryor died on the 9th of January 1981, aged 75, at Ballarat, Victoria.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.