William Procter (Canadian veteran)
Encyclopedia
William "Duke" Procter was a Canadian
veteran of the First World War
and the last remaining veteran of that war from western Canada. At the time of his death, there were only three known remaining Canadian World War I veterans.
He was born in Mabel Lake, British Columbia
, where he learned at an early age how to drive horses and haul wood. He joined the Canadian Army in 1916, went to England
as a member of the 172nd Rocky Mountain Rangers
Infantry and was put to work cutting timber for use on the front lines in France
because, at 16, he was considered too young for active duty. After his discharge, he returned to Mabel Lake, where he continued to work at logging, and later settled on a farm. After his retirement at the age of 67, he moved to Vernon, British Columbia
. Procter held the record as being the oldest person ever to compete in the Canadian Horseshoe
Championships, participating in 1997 and 1998, and celebrated his 100th birthday by skydiving
. He continued to drive his own car until the age of 101. He moved into a senior's home at 105 after a fall left him less mobile.
He received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal
in 2004.
He died at Oakside Manor residential care facility in Enderby, British Columbia
at the age of 106.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
veteran of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and the last remaining veteran of that war from western Canada. At the time of his death, there were only three known remaining Canadian World War I veterans.
He was born in Mabel Lake, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, where he learned at an early age how to drive horses and haul wood. He joined the Canadian Army in 1916, went to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
as a member of the 172nd Rocky Mountain Rangers
The Rocky Mountain Rangers
The Rocky Mountain Rangers is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. The regimental headquarters are located at JR Vicars Armoury in Kamloops, British Columbia...
Infantry and was put to work cutting timber for use on the front lines in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
because, at 16, he was considered too young for active duty. After his discharge, he returned to Mabel Lake, where he continued to work at logging, and later settled on a farm. After his retirement at the age of 67, he moved to Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while...
. Procter held the record as being the oldest person ever to compete in the Canadian Horseshoe
Horseshoe
A horseshoe, is a fabricated product, normally made of metal, although sometimes made partially or wholly of modern synthetic materials, designed to protect a horse's hoof from wear and tear. Shoes are attached on the palmar surface of the hooves, usually nailed through the insensitive hoof wall...
Championships, participating in 1997 and 1998, and celebrated his 100th birthday by skydiving
Parachuting
Parachuting, also known as skydiving, is the action of exiting an aircraft and returning to earth with the aid of a parachute. It may or may not involve a certain amount of free-fall, a time during which the parachute has not been deployed and the body gradually accelerates to terminal...
. He continued to drive his own car until the age of 101. He moved into a senior's home at 105 after a fall left him less mobile.
He received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II...
in 2004.
He died at Oakside Manor residential care facility in Enderby, British Columbia
Enderby, British Columbia
The City of Enderby is in the North Okanagan of the Canadian province of British Columbia, between Armstrong and Salmon Arm. It is approximately 80 km north of Kelowna and 130 km east of Kamloops...
at the age of 106.