Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Henry Raymond (Ray) Proctor, d.o.b.,28th December, 1904, and his sister marjorie were born at Hammond, in the North of South Australia.

Ray's father, Thomas Henry, an immigrant from Yorkshire, United kingdom, was employed as a ganger in charge of the railway line between Hammond and parachilna.

Thomas Henry had foresight and ambition, driving him to become a self employed land owner. He applied for a scrub allotment in the New Hundred of Shannon, at Yeelanna on Eyre Peninsula.

Thomas Henry, his wife Elsie Maria (nee Neate), and their two children, Ray and Marjorie, relocated to section 43, Hundred of Shannon, to begin a new life at Yeelanna in 1908.

Ray attended Yeelanna Orimary School, completing his education in Grade 7. He worked beside his father, assisting him to clear, develope and improve their family farm.

Ray was a crack shot with his .22 rifle, a skill he developed hunting vermin rabbits and kangaroos, while clearing and developing "Inglewood" Yeelanna.
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At the age of 24, Ray married Mary Jean Tiller, of Kybunga, in the Kybunga Methodist Church on 14/09/1929. Ray and "Jean" raised their family of four, three sons and a daughter, Donald Raymond, Betty Bernice, Geoffrey Brian and Ronakd Leonard, in the "Inglewood" farm homestead, built in 1924.

On 19th of May, 1942, Ray joined the local V.D.C., aged 38 years, training in uniform as an voluntary Army reserve. Rank Corporal, number S71086. His son, Geoffrey can remember his father in uniform, with his rifle, leaving home and returning from training duties with the V.D.C.

All of Ray and Jeans' three sons managed their parents farming properties. Their daughter also married a farmer. Ray and Jean were grandoarents to 5grand-daughters abd 6 grandsons (one
Adopted grandson and one deceased infant grandson

Jean's brother, Wesley Tiller, fought in WW1 at the Battle of the Somme, and also served in WW 11. Weskey once iwned the property "Rockleigh"at Karkoo, Eyre Peninsula. The property is currently owned by Paul Martin. Wesley relocated to a Soldier Settlers Block at Greenways, in the lower south east of South Australia, where he lived for the remainder of his life.

Ray ran a mixed farm at Yeelanna growing wheat, barley and oats, breeding prizewinning stud Clydesdale horses, and merino sheep. In 1938 Ray established and registered a merino sheep stud at "Inglewood" Yeekanna.

In 1950, Ray purchased a farm at Hilltown, in the mid north, an area which was the hub of merino sheep studs. Ray later sold the Hilltown farm and expanded with two further oroperties at Coonalpyn and Tintinara in the upper south east. Rays ekdest son remained at Yeelanna to manage his fathers farm, the two younger sons managed their father's upper south eastern oroperties, and Ray and Jean purchased a farmlet on the outskirts of Tintinara for their semi-retirement.

Ray was a keen sportsman, playinf football and cricket at Yeelanna, lawn bowls at Spalding, Tintinara and in retirement at Tranmere in metropolitan Adelaide.

He was a keen community man, involving himself in local government in the District Council of Clare. He held positions of Chairnan of the Hilltiwn Hall, President of the Tintinara and Tranmere biwling clubs. He was Greens Manager fir many years at both Tintinara and Tranmere Bowls Clubs, being awarded Life Membership at Tintinara.

Ray and Jean retired to a city home in Tranmere, Adelaide, I. 1976. Ray continuer to pkay bowls into his 80's until his heakth deteriorated and he was placed in St. Basils nursing home, St. Peters, where he passed away aged 87 years in 1991, he is buried at tge Enfield Lawn Cemetary

Submiited and written by Henry Raymond Proctor's daughter-in-law, Georgene

At the request of Henry Raymond Proctor's son, Geoffrey Bian Proctor on 26/12/2016.