Edward David Smout

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Sgt Edward David 'Ted' Smout OAM (January 5, 1898 – June 22, 2004) was a veteran of the First World War. Born in Brisbane (Queensland, Australia), he joined the AAMC at the age of 17, lying about his age to enlist.

During an engagement near the Somme River on April 21, 1918, Smout was an eyewitness to the final moments in the life and career of the famous German flying ace Manfred von Richthofen (aka the "Red Baron"), whose aeroplane had landed nearby after he was fatally shot. Smout reported that von Richthofen's last word was "kaputt" ("broken") just before he died.^[1] Smout said later in life that he resisted the temptation to souvenir the Red Baron's boots and Iron Cross.

He was awarded France's highest honour, being made a Chevalier (Knight) of the Legion d'Honneur in 1998 and also received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community. A regular participant in Anzac Day marches, Smout became one of the most celebrated war veterans in Queensland. He died at 106 years old, leaving a widow of 69 years, Ella.

According to historical journalist Jonathan King, "Ted Smout's legacy is in the hundreds of newspaper articles written about him, the book he wrote Three Centuries Spanned, hours and hours of video footage instructing Australians not to get involved in conflicts like Iraq or Afghanistan. His main message always was we should not glorify war. It was a mistake to fight in a far flung battle that had nothing to do with Australia, and he pleaded with the nation never to do it again."^[2]