Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor
| Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor | |
|---|---|
Captain Beauchamp-Proctor in 1918
|
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| Nickname(s) | Prockie |
| Born |
4 September 1894 Mossel Bay, South Africa |
| Died | 21 June 1921 (aged 26) RAF Upavon, England |
| Buried at | Mafikeng, South Africa |
| Allegiance | South Africa United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
South African Army (1914–15) Royal Flying Corps (1917–18) Royal Air Force (1918–21) |
| Years of service | 1914–1915 1917–1921 |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Unit | Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles No. 84 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
| Awards |
Victoria Cross Distinguished Service Order Military Cross & Bar Distinguished Flying Cross Mentioned in Despatches |
Andrew Frederick Weatherby (Anthony) Beauchamp-Proctor, VC, DSO, MC & Bar, DFC (4 September 1894 – 21 June 1921) was a South African airman and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was South Africa's leading ace of the First World War, being credited with 54 aerial victories.
Beauchamp-Proctor was born 4 September 1894 in Mossel Bay, Cape Province, the second son of a school teacher and attended the oldest school in the country, South African College Schools, Cape Town, where he was a resident of the oldest residence in the country, College House Residence (where his father was warden). He was studying engineering at University of Cape Town when the European war broke out. He took leave from his studies to join the Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles. He served as a signalman in the German South-West Africa campaign.
In August 1915, he was demobilised with an honorable discharge. He promptly went to work with the South African Field Telegraph and re-enrolled in university. He managed to complete his third year of college before re-enlisting, this time with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), in March 1917.
He was accepted as an Air Mechanic Third Class. From there, he passed on to pilot training at the School of Military Aeronautics at Oxford in England, where he was also commissioned. He managed to learn to fly despite his wiry stature of five feet two inches (1.57 m). His aircraft was altered to accommodate him; his seat was raised so he could have a better view from the cockpit and so he could reach controls. Blocks of wood were also fastened on his rudder bar so he could reach it.
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