Other Information:Harold was educated at Quorn Grammar School, at Loughborough Grammar School, and at Edinburgh University - entering in 1906, he qualified M.B., Ch.B. in 1911. He held the appointment of house-physician to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary before becoming house-surgeon to the Bolton Infirmary and assistant medical officer to the Monsall Fever Hospital. He then took up the appointed of resident medical officer at the Burnley Union Infirmary, an appointment he was in when he took up a commission, at the rank of temporary Lieutenant. within the R.A.M.C. on 1st May 1915.
On 10th June 1915 he joined No 25 General Hospital, during the formation of the unit, at Aldershot. He sailed with the unit from Southampton to France, leaving on the 15th June, and arriving the following day in Boulogne on 16th June 1915. He left No 25 General Hospital on 9th October 1915 with an away party from No 4 Stationary Hospital, St. Omer.
On 13th October 1915 he reported himself for duty with the 1st Field Ambulance and was taken on strength. Orders were received on 24th October to send 1 medical officer, along with 1 NCO and 4 men R.A.M.C. for temporary duty with No 6 Casualty Clearing Station, and the Commanding Officer detailed Harold to go. By 6th December 1915, he had served temporary duty as Medical Officer in charge of the 8th Berkshire Regiment, and returned to the 1st Field Ambulance that morning. By 17th February 1916 he was relieved from working at the Advanced Dressing Station at Les Brebis so he could go on leave. On 3rd March 1916 he was sent to take up temporary duty as Medical Officer in charge of 2nd Bn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps to relive the Medical Officer who had become unwell. On the 16th March 1916 he proceeded to take over medical charge of the 26th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, in accordance with instructions received from the D.D.M.S. 1st Division. On 1st May 1916 he gained promotion to temporary Captain, and also in the early part of 1916 he received a diploma in public health (D.P.H.). He was killed along with other officer from the regiment near Mametz Wood.
*An Obituary, which appeared in the United Methodist Journal on 14th September 1916 stated:- We very deeply regret, to announce that the only son in France of the Reverend James Proudfoot, Captain Harold Heafford Proudfoot, M.B., C.M. (Edinburgh), R.A.M.C., was killed at the front by the bursting of a shell on Saturday, September 2nd. He was 27 years of age. Mr Proudfoot has received from the Colonel of the R.F. Artillery a simple and very kindly- expressed message. Deep sympathy will go out to our old African missionary in this time of great sorrow. [* Kindly provided by Nigel Henderson].
He was the son of the Rev. James and Harriet Heafford Proudfoot of 24 Frederick Street, Loughborough, Leicester.
|