Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

PROCTOR John Smith LRCPI LRCSI LMI

1869-1940

John Smith Proctor was born in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland on 23rd September 1869. He immigrated to South Australia and was married to Marion Louise Crampton on 5th February 1898 at St Matthews Church, Kensington, South Australia. They were living at St Anne’s, Norwood, South Australia. He graduated LRCP, LRCS, LM (Ireland) in 1891. He was appointed a Public Vaccinator on 21st May 1896. He also was practising in Mount Pleasant, South Australia. He was appointed to attend the destitute poor and Aborigines in the Tungkillo district of South Australia in 1911. Later he gave his postal address as the Adelaide Club, Adelaide and his wife's postal address as the Queen Adelaide Club.

Prior to enlistment in the AIF he was an honorary captain in the AAMC Reserve.  He enlisted in the AIF on 22nd March 1918 at Keswick Barracks. He was 48 years and 6 months old, 5ft 10ins tall, weighed 192lbs, of dark complexion with brown eyes and black hair.  His wife was named as his next of kin. He entrained for the 2 MD on 15th July 1918 for embarkation on Borda on 17th July1918. He disembarked in London on the 27th September 1918 and was admitted on arrival to Fort Pitt Military Hospital, Chatham with an abscess on his right buttock. He was discharged fit for duty on the 23rd of October 1918. He was attached to the 3 AAH at Dartford on 27th November. He proceeded to France via Folkstone on 24th January 1919 and was posted to 2 AGH. He was then attached to 3 AGH from March until the following May. After leave in Paris from 11th May to 3rd of June 1919 he re-joined his unit before returning to London. There he had leave for medical education purposes from the 7th August to the 31st October 1919 while staying at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall. He embarked for Australia on 20th December 1919 on the Runic as the ship’s senior medical officer. He became unwell with rheumatic pain and jaundice on 8th January 1920. The Runic arrived in Australia on 3rd February 1920. He was apparently accompanied by his wife. His appointment in the AIF was terminated on the 3rd April 1920. He was issued with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

After the war he had a practice on North Terrace, Adelaide, remaining there for many years. Proctor and his wife were known for entertaining guests on the Floating Palais and also at their home in Wakefield Street, Adelaide. His wife died on 8th February 1934. He was fined four pounds with ten shillings costs for speeding with a pillion passenger on a motorbike in 1939. John Smith Proctor died at Glenelg Private Hospital South Australia on 19th February 1941. He was survived by his son Basil St John Guy Proctor who served in WW2 and who died on 2nd June1958.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australia, who Served in World War 1. 

Verco, Summers, Swain, Jelly. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2014. 

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD

Dr. J. S. Proctor, who died at a Glenelg private hospital last week, came to Adelaide 50 years ago from Limerick, Ireland. He practised medicine at Morphett Vale, and then at Mount Pleasant, where he  lived for 20 years. On the outbreak of the Great War he joined the medical corps and served as a captain throughout the war. On his return he practised at North terrace for many years. At Mount  Pleasant he married Marion, daughter of the late John and Mrs. Ann Crampton. His wife died five years ago. Dr. Basil Proctor, who is now serving in the A.I.F., is his only son.