Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Peter Perry Ledan and Aphrah Sarah (nee Pettie) Ledan, of East Terrace, Port Pirie, South Australia.

Mercantile Marine

S.S. "Southborough" (Sydney, N.S.W.)

No news has been received locally as to the names of the eight survivors, and much sympathy is, felt for Mr and Mrs Ledan in the dreadful uncertainty and anxiety which, attaches to the fate of their son. Mr G. P. Ledan was a powerful swimmer, and in fact was most proficient in the art of natation which may possibly have been of value to him when placed in a predicament as would probably be occasioned by the torpedoing of his vessel. The friends of Mr and Mrs Ledan express the sincere hope that all may yet be well with their boy.

Mr. and Mrs. P. Ledan, or Port Pirie, have been informed that their only son, Mr. G. P. Ledan, third engineer on the Southborough, which was torpedoed on July 17, 1918, was not among the survivors rescued from that vessel. 

Chronicle (Adelaide) 5-10-1918
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Ledan, of The Terrace, Pirie West, have received the following cable through the Broken Hill Associated Smelters, in regard to their only son, Mr. GEORGE PERRY LEDAN, who was third engineer on the steamer Southborough when she was torpedoed and sunk in European waters on July 17:— ''Ledan was on board, unfortunately, coming to this country. He was 26 years old and was born at North Adelaide. He had resided in Port Pirie since he was four years old. He went to sea about two years ago as an engineer on the Southborough. He was employed for eight years as an engineer at the smelting works. He was passionately fond of the sea, and was an expert swimmer. When 15 years of age he often swum across the Port Pirie river when the mooring line of a vessel became entangled in the propeller, young Ledan dived and cut the rope adrift. He was very popular, and was a fine type of an Australian.

The Wooroora Producer (Balaklava, S.A.) 26-9-1918
The Loss of the Southborough
Mr, P. G. LEDAN ONE OF THE VICTIMS.
Port Pirie, September 21.
The hope was cherished, when the sad news filtered through to Australia that the steamer Southborough had been torpedoed and sunk while on a voyage to the old country, that Mr Perry Ledan, who was third engineer on the vessel, might be amongst the survivors. There were few young men better known in the Port, Son of Mr and Mrs Peter Ledan, young Perry from boyhood to manhood had been a prime favorite with al with whom he came in contact, and his jovial, hearty disposition as he emerged into manhood seemed to have developed as the years passed. After the news of the sinking was received, hope remained to the anxious parents that their son might have been saved, for among the list of survivors was the name of Began, and as some difficulty was experienced in locating the address of this man, it was thought possible that there might have been some confusion in regard to the names. The parents, through the kind offices of the Broken Hill Associated Smelters, made all inquiries by cable, but they could learn nothing which would strengthen the conviction that Perry had been saved, and the blow fell very heavily on the afflicted parents when through the B. H. A.S, the following sad intelligence was transmitted:—"Ledan was on board unfortunately. Lost coming to this country (England)"  Much sympathy is felt for the parents and Miss Ledan in their bereavement.
Writing under date June 14 to his parents the young officer describes his visit to Malta, where they spent several days. Mr Ledan was passionately fond of the water, and states that at Malta he was able to indulge his bent to his heart's content. The letter also contains a very kindly reference to the captain of the Southborongh (Captain Eade), who was well known and highly respected in Port Pirie. It states that the captain, who also unfortunately was lost, was elated at the prospect of reaching his home in England in the immediate future. Again, on the 10th of June, from Tunis, Mr Ledan wrote to his parents as follows (this was the last letter they received from him) :—"Just a few lines to let you know that we are still afloat. This (Tunis) is a town in the north of Africa. It reminds me very much of Hummocks Hill, but is much larger. We are to load iron ore, the same as at the Iron Knob. It is a French port. We had a good trip across, the voyage becoming more interesting each day, as we do not know our port of destination after leaving the last one. There is some lovely scenery here big ranges close to the ship, and any amount of fruit gardens" Thus, as we have stated, was the last letter his parents received from the young engineer, and the only information regarding his fate is that conveyed in the cable received through the B. H.A .S , who have in this instance, as in numberless others, spared neither time nor trouble so that the afflicted parents and relatives may be in receipt of all information in regard to the fate of their loved ones.