| Probyn | Percy John | | Captain | 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.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Army Medical Corps |
