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.