Lieutenant-Colonel E.J. Scott-Dudley
Saskatoon Light Infantry

I was attached to A Company commanded by Maj. E.J. Scott-Dudley. That was the beginning of a very unhappy association. He knew of how I came to the Battalion and, like everyone else, misunderstood the situation. He was a banker who despised his own farm background. On my part even his hyphenated name was repulsive.

(Maj. H.C. Mitchell, Wartime Exploits, 12)

Born on 3 September 1907 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Edward John Scott-Dudley was a Saskatoon bank manager, accountant, and member of the Saskatoon Light Infantry since 1932. In the United Kingdom, he served as company commander and then second-in-command of the battalion under Lieutenant-Colonel Charles McKerron, who he replaced at the end of September 1941.

In May 1943, the machine gun unit was re-designated the 1st Division Support Battalion. “The spirit is good and the strong blood of the Sask L.I. (MG) will be a source of strength to the unit to be born tomorrow,” the war diary recorded. “The new child will be good and as strong because the strong me of the West will make it so.”

On 13 July 1943, the battalion followed the 1st Canadian Division landings at Sicily. Scott-Dudley was mentioned in dispatches for his service in the Italian campaign and after the hard fighting at Ortona, expressed to the troops: “We have been tried, and have proved that the Sak. L.I. is a Regiment second to none in performance in battle, discipline, efficiency and good fellowship.”

At home, his wife Jean took up factory work building Boeing aircraft. “My husband was a way for almost five years, serving overseas,” she later stated, “and my work not only made the time pass faster, but enabled me to feel that I too, was helping the war effort.”

After eight months’ field service, he relinquished command in early February 1944. He was temporarily replaced by Major R.C. Irvine before Lieutenant-Colonel J.A. Calder, formerly of the Royal Montreal Regiment, arrived later that month. Commenting on Scott-Dudley’s departure, the war diarist “detected a slight film on many of the eyes of the strong men around as he and James pulled away in their Jeep. We all remember the little ways with which he made things really good in the Battalion, and there is not one who does not hold him in the highest esteem. We could not tell him when he was here because he would not let one ‘apple-polish.’ Strange way  for soldier to talk, but Gad! we will miss him.”

After a posing to a reinforcement unit, he returned to Canada, resuming his banking career which took him to branches in Ottawa, British Columbia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

He died on 22 June 1988 in Vancouver, British Columbia.