Major Hilton David Proctor

Major Hilton David Proctor was the first Commanding Officer of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. 

Proctor was born in Ireland on August 20, 1911 and went to university in Ottawa, earning a BSc. He served with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals between 1927 and 1939. By 1940 he had attained the rank of Captain. He was selected as the original CO of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion in July 1942. 

On August 14, he and 26 other officers and NCOs reached Fort Benning in Georgia where they would be jump trained by the US Army. These officers were destined to form the core of the new Battalion. But at 2:04 PM on September 7, 1942, Proctor was tragically involved in a fatal parachuting accident. A transport plane following his own flew through his rigging lines, cutting straight through. Proctor was probably killed or at least knocked unconscious by hitting the plane itself before dropping to earth. A newspaper article from September 9 recorded the incident:

"Fort Benning, Ga. Sept 9 - Brig.-Gen. George P. Howell, commandant of the U.S. army parachute school, announced today that Maj. Hilton D. Proctor, 30 [recently turned 31], of Ottawa, leader of a contingent of Canadian paratroopers, was killed in a jump here Monday when a transport plane sheared into his parachute. "I can only state it was no failure of the parachute that caused Major Proctor's death", said General Howell. "Details of the accident were sent to Canadian defence headquarters and a board of inquiry will be held". 

Gen Howell said the parachute was in "good shape". "We don't want to scare people into believing otherwise", he added. General Howell spoke of Major Proctor as a "natural leader". "We felt he had a great future and that he was about as fine a selection as the Canadian government could have made. He was very well thought of and was getting along excellently in his work here", he said. The army said announcement was withheld pending clearance with Canadian authorities. Army investigators said it was probable Proctor was killed instantly by contact with the plane, which fouled his parachute. The body was to be flown to his home in Ottawa, today, accompanied by a representative of the Canadian army and a representative of Fort Benning. He is survived by his widow and one daughter. Maj. Proctor was the first Canadian to step into space for the group's initial jump Monday. The rest of the men landed safely. The class will graduate Saturday on schedule. Investigators called the fatality "a freak accident" and fixed no responsibility"

The remaining 26 officers were forced to finish their course without their friend and CO. They graduated from their parachute course later that week, their wings being pinned on by US General George Howell. G.F.P Bradbrooke was chosen as Proctor's successor to command the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. 

He married Dorothy Helen on April 9, 1931. They had a son called David, born in 1939.