Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Roy Douglas Proctor was the son of Amelia Proctor, of Toowong, Queensland, and the late Alfred John Proctor who had died in 1895. Roy was born in Bathurst, New South Wales, during 1890.

His mum stated on his Roll of Honour form that he had been educated at a public school in Lancashire, England and had returned to Australia when he was 20 years of age, or in about 1910. She said he worked on a station, and gave his place of association as Cunnamulla, Queensland. He would go on to be an exceptional soldier.  

Roy Proctor, enlisted in the A.I.F. and was assigned to the 15th Battalion in July 1915. He served in Gallipoli and was promoted to Corporal early in December 1915. He was evacuated sick to the Island of Lemnos, then transferred to hospital in Cairo for further treatment.

He left Egypt for service in France and was awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery in the field during the extremely heavy fighting at Mouquet Farm in late August 1916.

His recommendation states, 'This N.C.O. is recommended for consistent good work in action near Ferme Du Mouquet (Mouquet Farm) during operations 26th to 29th August, 1916. This N.C.O. continually rallied his men and on afternoon of 29th August 1916, during an intense barrage which obliterated portion of the trench line and caused heavy casualties he was particularly noticed for his example and leadership and succeeded in steadying his men in a trying situation.'

Proctor was promoted to Sergeant during October 1916. He took part in a raid on 1 February 1917, near Gueudecourt, when the 15th Battalion attacked a section of the German front line known as Stormy Trench. The party consisted of 150 men and six officers, or one and half companies. The attack started at about 7.00 p.m. on a frontage of 500 metres. Although the enemy trenches were only 100 metres from the Australian lines, inadequate artillery support caused the attack to fail. A German counter attack at 11 p.m. was beaten off. In the face of relentless German shelling of the captured trenches, and a stronger German counter attack at 4.30 a.m. the Battalion was forced to retire. Although 52 German soldiers were captured, the 15th Battalion’s casualties were 38 men killed, over 20 captured by the Germans and over 80 wounded.

Douglas was Initially buried in the Switch Trench Cemetery south of Fleurs, and his body was later relocated to the Guards Cemetery, Lesboeufs, Somme, France.

Family anecdotal stories suggest that his mother Amelia Proctor, had his Military Medal sewn into a bag which was cremated with her when she died in 1947, and his sister Ruby took out his letters and postcards every Anzac Day, 1 February and Remembrance Day to re-read them, never to forget her dear brother.