WW2 British Army Officer Sandhurst Cap J.H. Proctor POW Malayan Emergency KIA
This sale is for a Royal Military Academy Sandhurst peaked cap originally owned by Major John Harold Proctor (73158) The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire). J.H Proctor served in the Pacific during the Second World War, was captured and survived Japanese POW camps and later fought in the Malayan Emergency until he was sadly killed in action in 1950.
John Harold Proctor was born 29th Nov 1917 and was a career soldier, graduating as a Gentlemen Cadet from the Royal Military Academy, to be 2nd Lt. 26th Aug. 1937: — Loyal R.—John Harold PROCTER. Published in the London Gazette 27th August 1937 Supplement 34430 page 5443. He was later promoted from 2nd Lieutenant to Lieutenant. Published in the London Gazette 27th August 1940 Supplement 34931 page 5206.
During the Second World War he served in the 2nd battalion North Lancashire Regiment in China and Singapore commanding a newly formed carrier platoon. While station at Singapore J.H. Proctor participated in special missions with an independent company, which were lightly equipped units who conducted raids and guerrilla warfare. During the fall of Singapore to the Japanese, J.H. Proctor was captured as a prisoner of war on the 15th February 1942 and sent to Keijo Prison camp located in Seoul, Korea and later transferred to a camp in Japan until his liberation on the 2nd September 1945. During the later stages of the war he was promoted to Capt., 26th Aug. 1945 - Published in the London Gazette 5th February 1946 Supplement 37454 page 798.
After the war J.A. Proctor commanded Support Company, 2 Bn, North Lancashire Regt which was stationed in Austria as part of the occupation forces. During the beginning of the Malayan Emergency J.A Proctor served in the 2nd Battalion, Malay Regiment and earned a mention in dispatches in 1949. ''The KING has been graciously pleased that the following be mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Malaya during the period 1st July 1949 to 31st December 1949. - The Loyal Regiment. Maj. (temp.) J. H. PROCTER (73158)''. Published in the London Gazette 19th May 1950 Supplement 38916 page 2488.
John Harold Proctor was one of 519 British servicemen killed during the Malayan Emergency 16th June 1948 - 31st July 1960. Killed on active service in Kelantan, Malaya, 25th August 1950. He was one of eight servicemen along with one British and three Malayan civilians killed in the crash of RAF Dakota KN630 deep in the Malayan Jungle.
The Dakota aircraft took off from Changi airfield in Singapore on 25th August 1950 on a target marking sortie for Lincoln Bombers tasked to destroy Communist insurgent camps. After one successful sweep the aircraft suffered catastrophic engine failure and crashed into a ravine killing all 12 on board including the RAF crew of three and four Royal Army Service Corps Despatchers. Due to the prevailing security risk and the inhospitable terrain, a rescue party were forced to bury the remains in makeshift graves close to the crash site.
In 2008, an expedition funded by the Malaysian government was launched by a 150 strong team of military, police, specialist forensic archaeologists and civilian search teams, and in a stroke of luck on the last day of searching whilst facing rising flood waters, they recovered human remains. Following analysis, they were confirmed as belonging to the crew and passengers of the Dakota. In 2012, following an extensive search by staff at the Ministry of Defence’s Service Personnel and Veterans Agency the relatives of all but one on board were traced and invited to attend the commemorative and committal service at the Cheras Road Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery.
Major John Harold Proctor was 32 years old when he was killed.