Andrew Weatherby Beauchamp Proctor VC

Name: Andrew Weatherby Beauchamp Proctor (born Andrew Frederick Weatherby Proctor)

Conflict: First World War

Gazetted:November 30, 1918

Service: Royal Flying Corps/RAF

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Andrew Weatherby Beauchamp Proctor VC
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Medal group

Place/date of birth: Mossel Bay, Cape Colony, South Africa/September 4, 1894

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Acting Captain (Flight Lieutenant)

Date of bravery: August 8 – October 8, 1918

London Gazette citation:

Lieut. (A./Capt.)Andrew Weatherby Beauchamp-Proctor, D.S.O., M.C., D.F.C., No. 84 Sqn., R.A. Force.

Between August 8th, 1918, and October 8th, 1918, this officer proved himself victor in twenty-six decisive combats, destroying twelve enemy kite balloons, ten enemy aircraft, and driving down four other enemy aircraft completely out of control.

Between October 1st, 1918, and October 5th, 1918, he destroyed two enemy scouts, burnt three enemy kite balloons, and drove down one enemy scout completely out of control.

On October 1st, 1918, in a general engagement with about twenty-eight machines, he crashed one Fokker biplane near Fontaine and a second near Ramicourt; on October 2nd he burnt a hostile balloon near Selvigny; on October 3rd he drove down, completely out of control, an enemy scout near Mont d’Origny, and burnt a hostile balloon; on October 5th, the third hostile balloon near Bohain.

On October 8th, 1918, while flying home at a low altitude, after destroying an enemy two-seater near Maretz, he was painfully wounded in the arm by machine-gun fire, but, continuing, he landed safely at his aerodrome, and after making his report was admitted to hospital.

In all he has proved himself conqueror over fifty-four foes, destroying twenty-two enemy machines, sixteen enemy kite balloons, and driving down sixteen enemy aircraft completely out of control.

Captain Beauchamp-Proctor’s work in attacking enemy troops on the ground and in reconnaissance during the withdrawal following on the Battle of St. Quentin from March 21st, 1918, and during the victorious advance of our Armies commencing on August 8th, has been almost unsurpassed in its brilliancy, and as such has made an impression on those serving in his squadron and those around him that will not be easily forgotten.

Capt. Beauchamp-Proctor was awarded Military Cross on 22nd June, 1918; D.F. Cross on 2nd July, 1918; Bar to M.C. on 16th September, 1918; and Distinguished Service Order on 2nd November, 1918.’

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: N/A

Place/date of death: Upavon, Wiltshire/June 21, 1921

Grave/memorials: Buried at Upavon but later reinterred in Mafeking Cemetery, South Africa/Headstones at Upavon and Mafeking, name on RAF Memorial, St Clement Danes, London

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased privately, 2016

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum