Obituaries Australia

Edward Proudfoot, c.1940

Australian War Memorial, P09639-001

In accordance with a motion passed by the Scone Sub-branch of the R.S. & S.I.L. of Australia, flags were flown at half-mast from the Soldiers' Memorial School of Arts on Wednesday last. Their position indicated that a district soldier had passed to his reward.

On that day, the Military Department had advised Mr. Hector T. Proudfoot, that his son, Private Edward Proudfoot, had been killed in action. The intimation conveyed the deep regret of the Department.

The young soldier, who was a native of Scone and 21 years of age, was born on Peace Day (19th July, 1919) following the last Great War. He was one of the very first of the many town and district men to enlist, proceeded to Sydney by the first train carrying troops from the North, and sailed from Australia with the 2/2 Battalion on 9th January of last year.

He was one of the first Australians to enter the Middle East, where for a period he was engaged on the Headquarters Staff, his officer being Lieut. A. A. McLelllan, of Murrurundi, whose name appears in the latest casualty list. Private Proudfoot wrote home regularly, and from last advice it would appear he was attached to the Transport Service.

For two years prior to enlistment, he was in the employ of the Railway Department, and was stationed at Scone. Recognised as a popular and ambitious officer of the Department, his manly bearing and courteous demeanour popularised him with a host of confreres and associates alike, all of whom will commiserate with his father, sister and brothers in their great loss, yet the bereaved ones realise and find consolation, and have their sorrow tempered in full knowledge of the fact that the young Australian gave his life for his country, whose cause is that of all democratic and freedom-loving countries in the present grave world crisis.

Another brother, Samuel G. Proudfoot, is attached to the R.A.A.F.

Mr. Proudfoot received further advice yesterday that his son had died of wounds, and had not been killed in action, as previously reported. . .