Proctor, James
Sergeant
No. 18594, ‘B’ Company, 13th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Thursday 16 August 1917 (aged 36)
Buried:
Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium (Grave IV. B. 20)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Comber and District War Memorial
Comber Masonic Lodge No. 46 Roll of Honour
First Comber Presbyterian Church
BIOGRAPHY
James Proctor was born on 1 July 1881 in Dingwall, Ross-shire in Scotland and he was a son of John and Barbara Proctor (nee McDonald). John Proctor worked as whiskey brewer and then as a whiskey distillery manager and he and Barbara had thirteen children including:
Maggie (born around 1878/1879 in Scotland)
Mary Sinclair (born around 1880/1881 in Scotland)
James (born 1 July 1881 in Dingwall, Ross-shire, Scotland)
Alexander (born 28 August 1883 in Bushmills, Co Antrim)
Stella (born around 1884/1885 in Scotland)
John (born around 1885/1886 in Scotland)
Barbara (born 1 January 1887 in Dublin)
Bella (born around 1890/1891 in Scotland)
Hugh (born around 1892/1893 in Scotland)
George William (born 26 March 1896 in Bridge Street, Comber)
Christina (born 9 February 1900 in Killinchy Street, Comber)
The Proctor family lived in Scotland and Ireland – in Bushmills, County Antrim; in Dublin and in Comber where they lived in Bridge Street and Killinchy Street. Reflecting their Scottish roots the name of their house in Killinchy Street was Dalvourne.
James Proctor and Mary Jane Niblock were married on 17 December 1910 in Comber Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church. Mary Jane Niblock aged 21 from Ballystockart was a daughter of John Niblock, a farmer.
The Proctor family lived in Railway Street, Comber.
James and Mary Jane Proctor (nee Niblock) had at least one child:
John (born 25 December 1910 in the Maternity Hospital, Belfast)
James Proctor worked as a commercial clerk and then as a brewer before he enlisted in Comber. He served with the 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division and was wounded in action on 7 February 1916. He returned to active service and was killed in action on 16 August 1917 at the Battle of Langemarck (aged 36).
Sergeant James Proctor (No. 18594) was buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium and he is commemorated on Comber and District War Memorial; on the Roll of Honour for Comber Masonic Lodge No. 46 and in First Comber Presbyterian Church.
His brother Hugh also served with the 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.