PROCTER, Thomas James
| Service Number: | 534 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 January 1916, Enlisted at Newcastle. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 35th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, 1885 |
| Home Town: | Newcastle, Hunter Region, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Railway Permanent Way (track worker) |
| Died: | Wounds, Bullecourt, France, 11 June 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Boulogne Eastern Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 534, 35th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Newcastle. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 534, 35th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 1 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 534, 35th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Sydney | |
| 8 Jun 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 534, 35th Infantry Battalion, Battle of Messines, Gunshot wounds to neck and skull. Transferred No.13 General Hospital at Boulogne on 9th June 1917. Died of wounds on 11th June 1917. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Thomas James PROCTER worked in the Permanent Way Branch (track maintenance) of the NSW Government Railways and Tramways. He enlisted in the AIF at Newcastle, NSW, on 28th January 1916 and was assigned to the 35th Infantry Battalion (which was just being formed at that time). He joined with the rank of Private (Service Number 534). He stated that he was born at Wollongong, NSW. His age at enlistment was 30 years and 9 months, and he was a labourer.
For some years before Thomas enlisted, he was in a de facto relationship with a Mrs Amy Williams. They had taken a baby, Phyllis Procter, into their care when she was four weeks old and they regarded her as their adopted daughter. When Thomas enlisted, he nominated Phyllis Procter as his next of kin. At the time, Amy Williams and Phyllis Procter were living at an address in central Newcastle but he gave his address as being in the Newcastle suburb of Cooks Hill.
Thomas embarked for England with the 35th Infantry Battalion aboard HMAT A24 ‘Benalla’ at Sydney on 1st May 1916 and disembarked at Plymouth, England, on 9th July 1916.
He left England for France on 21st November 1916.
He was on duty with his unit until 8th June 1917 when he was wounded in action during the battle of Messines in Belgium, receiving gunshot wounds to the neck and skull.
He was transferred to No. 13 General Hospital at Boulogne on 9th June 1917 where he died of his wounds on 11 June 1917. On 18th June 1917 he was mentioned for bravery in the field, for his actions at the time (or shortly before) he was wounded.
His grave is in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Boulogne, Nord Pas de Calais, France. His place of association is Newcastle, NSW.
After his death a claim by Amy Williams for a pension was rejected. However, when the time came to issue his war medals the Army agreed to issue them to her, but only after thoroughly investigating her claim.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.