A strapping young miner named George Proctor, of Otago, who had some vocal training in Dunedin, is making a name for himself about the firing line in France. He has won several classical competitions, and has been accorded the highest praise of French judges, who have spoken in warm terms of appreciation of his tenor voice. Mr. Proctor has been retained behind the lines specially to sing to wounded soldiers — surely a striking tribute to a young vocalist on active service. It is not long since a Government official in Kaitangata urged upon Mr. Proctor the wisdom of having his voice trained. He did, and scored an immediate success at the competitions in Dunedin. His latest efforts, however, are more noteworthy. -Auckland Star, 21/2/1917.
Mr George Proctor, the young Dunedin tenor, who left with the 16th Reinforcements, in writing to his teacher, Mr Harold Browning, states that he was successful in winning the champion sacred and ballad items in a competition open to all the British, New Zealand and Australian troops in France. -Waimate Daily Advertiser, 22/2/1917.
In a letter received by Mrs Montague from Private George Proctor (who will he remembered as a successful competitor at the local Competitions’ Society's festivals), he states that he is one of the New Zealand Pierrot party in France. Included in the party are Lance-corporal Prowse and Private Green, both old competitors at the Dunedin competitions. Private Proctor refers in his letter to the benefits he derived from the Dunedin Competitions, and also states that he has to thank Mrs Montague for her good advice. He is now singing with some of England’s best, and holding his own with them. -Evening Star, 6/7/1917.
Private advice was received by Mr. and Mrs. Proctor, of Kakapuaka, on Monday, to the effect that their elder son, Sapper George Proctor, of the New Zealand Engineers, had died of wounds on October 1. The intelligence came as a shock to the family of deceased, and also to the residents of Kakapuaka, where Sapper Proctor was very well known, having resided with his parents in that district for some four years prior to enlistment. He was 32 years of age at the time of his death. Leaving New Zealand with the 8th or 9th contingent of Reinforcements, he had taken part in all the fighting gone through by that body of troops. No word had been previously received stating that deceased had been wounded. -Clutha Leader, 12/10/1917.
SAPPER GEORGE PROCTOR.
Sapper George Proctor (died of wounds) was the elder son of Mr and Mrs G. Proctor, Kakapuaka. He was born at Mount Stuart, and educated at Leith Valley School. He served his apprenticeship to the cabinetmaking with Messrs Nees and Sons, where he was very popular and highly respected. He left the firm about five years ago to join his brother in farming at Kakapuaka. He was a keen cyclist, having taken part in the road race from Timaru to Christchurch in 1911. He left Dunedin with the Ninth Reinforcements, and has been through all the fighting since then. The news of his death cast quite a gloom over both the district where his parents reside and the factory in which he had worked. -Evening Star, 20/11/1917.
George Proctor was wounded on September 30th, 1917, when the NZ Engineers were working hard near the front line in preparation for the large attack now known as the Battle of Passchendaele. "Bomb wound abdomen" is written in his army record. He died the next day in a Casualty Clearing Station.
Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.
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