PROBYN, PERCY JOHN, Captain, is the
eldest son of Frederick Probyn, JP, Cambridge House, Trevethen,
Monmouthshire; was educated privately at Weston-super-Mare; at the
University Colleges, Cardiff, and Aberystwith; Charing Cross Medical School
and Hospital (entrance Science Scholar, Pereira Prizeman, three silver
medals, several Honours Certificates); Member Royal College of Surgeons
(England); Licentiate Royal College of Physicians, London; entered the Army
Medical Corps in 1896; served in the Lagos Expeditionary Force (Medal and
clasp), 1897 to 1898; in the Sierra Leone Expedition, 1898-99 (clasp). He
served in the South African War, taking part in the advance on Kimberley,
including the action at Magersfontein; Relief of Kimberley; operations in
the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including operations at
Paardeberg (17 to 26 February), actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Vet
River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal in May and
June 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill
(11 and 12 June); operations in Orange River Colony May 1901; operations on
the Zululand Frontier of Natal, Sept and October 1901; operations in the
Transvaal, May 1901 to February 1902. He was mentioned in Despatches
[London Gazette, 8 February 1901]; received the Queen's Medal with four
clasps, the King's Medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the
Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 19 April 1901]: "Percy John
Probyn, Captain, Royal Army Medical Corps. In recognition of services
during the operations in South Africa". The Insignia, etc, were sent to
South Africa, and presented there. He became Major 29 October 1907, and
Lieutenant Colonel 1 March 1915. In 1906 he took his degree of MB and BS
(Intermediate, 1905), London University; DPH (Royal College of Physicians
and Surgeons), 1907; became Barrister-at-Law, 1908; Fellow of the Honourable
Society of Lincoln's Inn; became an FRIPH; Member of the Royal Sanitary
Institute, and Member of the Hardwicke Society; was Assistant Demonstrator
Pathology, Charing Cross Hospital Medical School; obtained Honourable
Mention in Medicine, Army Medical School, Netley; was appointed Prosector
Royal College of Surgeons, and Sanitary Specialist Officer, South China
Command. His favourite recreations were cycling, shooting, riding and
fishing. He married Sara Marie Calhoun, daughter of Eugene Colhoun, and
together they had four daughters and one
son, Yvonne, Idina, Phyllis, Yvette and Dighton.
