Doris Jane PROCTER

16 February 1917

SETTLE – Death of Mrs. James Procter

The death took place, suddenly, on Thursday the 8th inst., of Mrs. Mary Ann Procter, wife of Mr. James Procter, of Commercial House, Settle, at the age of 60 years. She was the daughter of the late John Close, farmer, Willow Tree, Bentham. She spent her youth at Barnoldswick, and for many years was connected with the Church Sunday School there. The deceased took a great interest in ambulance work, being a member of the Settle Division of St. John Ambulance Brigade for 22 years’, having resigned just prior to her death. For several years she was the Lady Superintendent of the Nursing Division at Settle. She leaves, beside her husband, two sons and three daughters. The eldest son is in His majesty’s Forces in France and was unable to attend the funeral, which took place on Monday at the Settle Parish Church, the coffin being borne by members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. Lady members of Settle and Longpreston Nursing Classes attended. There were many beautiful floral tributes.

[The above article refers to the mother of Able Seaman S.J. Procter and VAD Nursing Member D.J. Procter]

09 November 1917

FORMER SETTLE CONSTABLE DIES

News reached Settle during the week that Lance Corporal Ernest Woodhead of the Royal Engineers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Woodhead of Huddersfield, and formerly a clerk in the West Riding Constabulary at Settle, had died on October 27th at the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, France.

In a letter to Miss Procter, of Settle, but who is at present engaged as a nurse at a military hospital in Leicester, a chaplain states that Lance Corporal Woodhead was admitted to hospital very badly wounded in the legs and than he only lived a few hours after his arrival. He was 26 years of age, and had only been in France a few months. Lance Corporal Woodhead came from Pontefract to Settle in 1911, and while at Settle he had a very successful career early winning his good conduct badge for stopping a runaway horse in the Market Place. From Settle he was transferred to Keighley, where he was also engaged as a clerk, and where he was highly esteemed and respected by the members of the force. It was while at Keighley that he joined the Army.

27 December 1918

SETTLE – Sad Death of a V.A.D. Worker

The funeral took place on Saturday at Settle Parish Church of Miss Doris Procter, youngest daughter of Mr. James Procter, tailor, Settle, amid many signs of deepest sympathy for the bereaved parents and relatives of deceased. Miss Procter, who was only 26 years of age, volunteered for V.A.D. service on the outbreak of war, being the first to do so from Settle, and was called up in the April following, and had been serving up to the time of her death, which occurred at the Base Military Hospital, Leicester, where she had been doing duty for some time, the cause of death being pneumonia following influenza. She had only a very short time previously returned to duty, after being on leave for several weeks. The funeral was largely attended, the St. John Ambulance, of which she was a member, following the cortege, and also the majority of the local soldiers who were on leave from France and the home camps. Many wreaths were sent, among which was one from the nurses and matron at the hospital, one from the officer patients, another from the staff. Much sympathy was extended to Mr. Procter and family in their sad bereavement, which is more distressing because it follows close upon the heels of a previous bereavement in the loss of a son killed in action, and which was announced in our issue of a few weeks ago.