Andrew Frederick Weatherby (Anthony) Beauchamp-Proctor, VC, DSO, MC & Bar, DFC (4 September 1894 – 21 June 1921) was a South African airman and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Beauchamp-Proctor was born 4 September 1894 in Mossel Bay, Cape Colony, the second son of a school teacher.

He managed to complete his third year of college before re-enlisting, this time with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), in March 1917.

Under the command of Major William Sholto Douglas, the unit became one of the most effective scout squadrons in the RFC/RAF (Royal Air Force) during 1918.

Beauchamp-Proctor's piloting skills can be judged by the fact he had three landing accidents before he ever shot down an enemy plane.

He continued to fly the SE5 with the aforementioned modifications to the aircraft's seat and controls, something his Philadelphia-born American squadron mate, Joseph "Child Yank" Boudwin, who stood only two inches taller and who would himself eventually be posted to the USAAS's S.E.

On that morning, he knocked an enemy observation plane out of the battle; fifteen minutes later, he destroyed an Albatros D.V scout.

For the remainder of his career, he would choose to try to blind the enemy by concentrating on shooting down kite balloons and observation aircraft.

[1] The break in his victory string lasted almost a month, as he went on home leave and helped a recruitment drive for the RAF.

84 Squadron on a patrol over their base at Bertangles, with Boudwin and six-foot-four tall, fellow South African Hugh Saunders as wingmen.

On 8 October, he was hit by ground fire and wounded in the arm, ending his front line service.

He was discharged from hospital in March 1919 and embarked on a four-month-long lecture tour of the US, before returning to England and qualifying as a seaplane pilot with a permanent commission as a flight lieutenant in the RAF.

After his VC investiture at Buckingham Palace in November 1919 he was awarded a year's leave, and this enabled him finish his BSc degree in Engineering.

Beauchamp-Proctor was killed on 21 June 1921 in a training accident flying a Sopwith Snipe, in preparation for an air show at the RAF Hendon.

At least one observer remarked that the loss of control and subsequent crash of the aircraft could have been linked to Proctor's diminutive size.

He was originally buried at Upavon, Wiltshire, but in August 1921 his body was returned to South Africa[3] where he was given a state funeral.

He then attacked another group of hostile scouts, one of which he shot down completely out of control, and another crumpled up and crashed to earth.

He has at all times displayed the utmost dash and initiative, and is a patrol leader of great merit and resource.MC citation, Supplement to the London Gazette, 22 June 1918 Lt.

On a recent morning his patrol of five aeroplanes attacked an enemy formation of thirty machines and was successful in destroying two of them.

On 8 October 1918, while flying home at a low altitude, after destroying an enemy two-seater near Maretz, he was painfully wounded in the arm by machine-gun fire, but, continuing, he landed safely at his-aerodrome, and after making his report was admitted to hospital.

Captain Beauchamp-Proctor's work in attacking enemy troops on the ground and in reconnaissance during the withdrawal following on the Battle of St. Quentin from 21 March 1918, and during the victorious advance of our Armies commencing on 8 August, has been almost unsurpassed in its Brilliancy, and.