[ADD PIC]
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There is a photograph of St. Stephen's church and churchyard at Worcester, where he is buried, in the 11th Hussar file.
Born in Middlesex c.1836.
Enlisted at Hounslow on the 6th of April 1850.
Age: 19.
Height: 5' 8".
Trade: Labourer.
1851 Census
Pockthorpe Cavalry Barracks, Norwich.
John Proctor, 19, Soldier, unmarried, born London, Middlesex.
According to Lummis and Wynn, Proctor was "under fire" at Balaclava, but did not charge, although he was slightly wounded. [PB: What was their source?]
From Private to Corporal: 1st of January 1856.
Reduced to Private by a Regimental Court-martial on the 17th of June 1857.
Birth registered
Edward Proctor [son], March Quarter 1860, Aston.
No registration data exist, but evidently a second son, George, was born in Dublin around 1862.
1861 Census
Fulwood Barracks, Preston
J Proctor, 30, Private 11th Hussars, born Islington, Middlesex.
L Proctor, 24, wife, born Kinnington [presumably Kennington], Surrey
E Proctor, son, 1, born St Jas [sic], Warwick.
Discharged, "by claim, time expired", from Dublin on the 15th of April 1862.
Conduct and character: "good".
In possession of two Good Conduct badges.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, Sebastopol and the Turkish medal.
The Balaclava clasp was awarded on an "O/C's certificate, dated the 24th of August 1857."
Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.
[PB: His name appears in a list of attendees in both the Daily News and Daily Telegraph accounts.]
THE BANQUET TO THE LIGHT BRIGADE
...There were about 130 survivors of the famous ride present, and their names are worthy of record. These are they:
...John Proctor...
[Source: The Daily News, Tuesday, October 26, 1875. Transcribed Douglas Austen, June 2017]
His name appeared in the 1877 list of members of the Balaclava Commemoration Society but not in the 1879 revised list.
While he does not appear to have been "officially" recognised as having ridden in the Charge a report of his death and funeral appeared in the 11th Hussar Journal of 1912 in which he was at least recognised by the Regiment as being a participant. (See copy of this in the 11th Hussar file [PB: See below.]).
Births registered
Ellen Proctor, June Quarter 1865, born Evesham.
Louisa, March Quarter 1869, born Kidderminster.
Henry, March Quarter 1872, born Droitwich.
Charles Frederick Proctor, September Quarter 1876, born Droitwich.
Marian Proctor, March Quarter 1879, born Droitwich.
1871 Census
39 Cumberland Street, Claines.
John Proctor, 46, Labourer.
Louisa Proctor, 35.
Edward, 11, born Dublin [sic].
George, 9, born Dublin.
Ellen, 6, born Claines.
Louisa, 3 born Claines.
1881 Census
1881 Census
Somerset Place, Claines, Worcester.
John Proctor, 50, Gas Labourer, born Islington.
Louisa, 44, born Kennington.
Edward, 21, Painter, born Birmingham.
George, 19, Plumber, born Ireland.
Ellen, 16, Dress maker, born Claines.
Louisa, 13, Dress maker apprentice, born Claines.
Henry, 9, Scholar, born Claines.
Charles, 4, Scholar, born Claines.
Marian, 2,, Scholar, born Claines.
1891 Census
19, Pinkett Street, Claines, Worcester.
John Proctor, 60, Gas fitter, born Islington.
Louisa, 54, born Kennington.
Charles, 14, born Claines.
Marion, 12, born Claines.
1901 Census
20, Pinkett Street, Claines, Worcester.
John Proctor, 71, Gas fitter, born Islington.
Louisa, 65, born Kennington.
Marian, 22, born Worcester.
[CP: Note that their son Edward Proctor, Painter, aged 40, lived next door — at Laburnham Cottage, Northwich Road — with his wife Jane and their two sons.]
1911 Census
102 Northwich Road, Barbourne, Worcester.
John Proctor, 81, late Stock Keeper — Gas works, born Islington.
Louisa, 75, born Kennington.
Marian, 32, single, born Worcester.
Ronald Frederick Proctor, 3, grandson, born Battersea.
Deaths registered
John Proctor, 82, March 1912, Worcester.
Louisa, 75, March 1913, Worcester.
Died at Barbourne, Worcestershire, aged 82 years, on the 12th of February 1912 and was buried in St. Stephen's churchyard at Worcester. His address at the time of death is shown in the parish records as No. 102 Northwick Street, Barbourne.
All headstones (if indeed one was ever erected to him) and kerbs were removed by legal faculty from the churchyard in 1969, although grave locations are marked on a chart and index record.
From the Worcester Daily Times for the 13th of February 1912:
"Crimean Veteran's Death"
"Worcester Citizen who took part in the Charge." The death occurred on Monday at his residence, Pinkett Street, Barbourne, of Private John Proctor. Mr. Proctor saw much active service during the Crimean War. He was the proud possessor of the Crimean medal with clasps for the Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
He was in the famous Charge of the Light Brigade and emerged with nothing more than a slight wound. In that fight, 400 of the 600 men of this Brigade which entered the fight, fell there. During the Crimean War he was in the 11th Hussars.
Two or three years after the declaration of peace, when he left the Army. he became an employee of the Worcester Gas Company and when he left their employ a few years ago he had been with them for more than 40 years.
At Hindley Park in August of last year, Mr. Proctor attended the first public parade of the Worcestershire Yeomanry Reserve, when the Lord Lieutenant of the County, (the Earl of Coventry) presented badges. Private John Proctor, who was then 81 years of age, was the object of much sympathetic attention.
On the occasion he bore the signs of old age, and although his extreme frailness caused him to be accommodated in a chair, he was heartily congratulated by the Lord Lieutenant, who made a close examination of the old warrior's medals and clasps. Shaking hands with Mr. Proctor, his Lordship said, "I congratulate you on being here today and hope you'll be none the worse for it."
It was an incident which served well as an acknowledgement of the fine service rendered by the veteran soldier of some 60 years before.
Considering his great age, Mr. Proctor was in good health until very shortly before his death, which was due to bronchitis."
From the Worcester Daily Times, 19th of February 1912:
"Crimean Veteran's Funeral"
"In the presence of a large crowd and with full military honours, Private John Proctor, one of the heroes of the famous Balaclava Charge of the Light Brigade, was buried on Saturday in St. Stephen's churchyard.
Some time before the forming up of the procession a crowd had gathered in the neighbourhood of the church, attracted by the military presence.
The Regiment was represented by a Sergeant-Major and a Sergeant, from Aldershot, and two Sergeant Majors, attached to the Queen's Own Worcestershire Yeomanry. There was also present from the Yeomanry a firing-party of 12 men and a detachment from the Worcestershire Regiment.
A gun-carriage from the 2nd South Midland R.F.A. was used to carry the coffin. Also present were 14 members of the Claine Troop of Boy Scouts.
A procession was formed in Northwich Lane in front of the house, the coffin being placed on the gun-carriage by the bearers, which included ex-Corporal Wakelin of the 1st Worcesters and three men from the Worcester Gas Works and covered with a large Union Jack.
There was a touching scene when the widow of Mr. Proctor was led up to the gun-carriage to hand up a wreath to be placed on the coffin. As the procession started the band began to play the Dead March in "Saul".
The cortege was received by the Revd. J. Warwick, who conducted the service.
The scene at the grave-side was very impressive. After the committal sentences had been pronounced the firing party fired three volleys. Then came the sounding of the "Last Post" by the men from Norton Barracks.
Those at the grave-side included a number of veterans of the Worcestershire Veterans Reserve.
Amongst the veterans contemporary with Mr. Proctor was Sergeant Preece of the Scots Greys, who rode in the Charge of the Heavy Brigade. A grey-haired old man with crutches informed the Pressman that he was Private Diddle of the 44th Essex Regiment and was for 12 months at the Siege of Sebastopol. An Indian Mutiny veteran was present in the person of Private Dearlove of the 80th Rifles. [A list of mourners and wreath-senders follows.]"
There is a photograph of St. Stephen's church and churchyard at Worcester, where he is buried, in the 11th Hussar file.
The following information came from his last surviving grandson, a Mr Harper, in September 1974:
"My maternal grandfather, John Proctor, served throughout the Crimean and Indian Mutiny campaigns. Having done some research into the family history, [I have discovered that] John Proctor was the son of the former owner of the "Angel" public-house at Islington, and had run away to join the 11th Hussars, being in Ireland before going abroad.
He was badly wounded in the Charge and had terrible scars, indicating a lance thrust through the fore-arm and biceps. He was very reluctant to exhibit these wounds, even to his relatives, although, as boys, we persisted when we visited him at his home on the outskirts of Worcester.
I remember his orchard of damsons and plums, from which his wife used to make the barrels of wine with which she plied him in the last few years to keep him happy.
He was a fine upright man to the last and would demonstrate any "cut and thrust" if we encouraged him.
He died about 1910-12. I was about 13 at the time and attended the funeral. The band played "The girl I left behind me" on the return march."
[PB: From an EJB file. Is this the article from the 11th Hussar Journal (accepting JP was a Charger) referred to above?]
Registrations of births and deaths, and a additional Census information for 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 and 1901, kindly provided by Chris Poole.