L/Sgt 52053 Thomas Arthur Proctor

Thomas Arthur was born on 18th August, 1892 in Liverpool the son of Alfred Proctor and his wife Fanny (née Williams) who were married 19th August, 1885 at St Nicholas’s Church, Liverpool. Alfred was a 21 year old boilermaker of Christian St, father Thomas an engineer, whilst Fanny was aged 21 also of Christian St, father Thomas a stevedore. He was baptised at St. Cleopas Church, Toxteth on 30th November, 1892 where the family address was shown as 22 Tavistock Street. His father's occupation is shown as a Rivetter.   

He was a pupil of St Cleopa’s National School, Mill Street. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living 22 Tavistock Street, Liverpool. His father, Alfred, is aged 35, and is employed as a boiler-maker, his mother, Fanny, is aged 34, and has no occupation listed. They have three children Louisa M. aged 14, Fanny aged 12 and Thomas Arthur aged 8 who were all born in Liverpool.

Before enlisting he was employed at the Boundary Hotel, Lodge Lane.

 
Thomas enlisted in Liverpool in October 1915 as Pte 5309 in the 1/10 Liverpool (Scottish) Regiment where he was promoted to Corporal. As he did not receive the 1915 Star he must have arrived in France after January 01st 1916, After being transferred he was serving with the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Lance Serjeant 52053 when he died of wounds on 11th April 1917, he was 24 years of age.  

A family notice states he was mortally wounded on Easter Monday, the 9th. This particular day was the start of the great attack of 3rd and 4th Army’s, the Battle of Arras. The Battalion diary estimated the days casualties as 6 subalterns and 217 O.R.’s. 

Arthur now rests at Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension in France where his headstone bears the poignant epitaph:

"DEVOTED, BELOVED AND ONLY SON OF HIS WIDOWED MOTHER FANNY PROCTOR DINGLE LIVERPOOL"

For much of the First World War, Abbeville was headquarters of the Commonwealth lines of communication and No.3 BRCS, No.5 and No.2 Stationary Hospitals were stationed there variously from October 1914 to January 1920. The communal cemetery was used for burials from November 1914 to September 1916, the earliest being made among the French military graves. Abbeville Communal Cemetery contains 774 Commonwealth burials of First World War and 30 from the Second. The Extension contains 1,754 First World War burials and 348 from the Second. The Commonwealth sections of both cemetery and extension were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Liverpool Daily Post 12th April 1918

PROCTOR - In loving memory of ARTHUR PROCTOR (sergeant, K.L.R.), affectionate only son of Fanny and the late Alfred Proctor, 75 Balkan Street, who died April 11th 1917, from wounds in action, and was buried at Abbeville, France. -  Sadly missed by Mother, Sisters and Brother-in-law.

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