EMBRY GCB KBE DSO DFC AFC Sir Basil Edward
1902 – 1977
After a most distinguished career with the Royal Air Force during the 1939-45 War and post-war service as Commander-in-Chief of Fighter Command, Embry and his wife emigrated to Western Australia in 1956. Here they established themselves as sheep farmers on largely undeveloped country, first at Chowerup and later at Cape Riche.
Elected president of the Farmers Union in 1971 Embry gave dynamic leadership, lifting morale and making the Union more professional. He was a founder and first chairman of Rural Traders Co-operative, developing direct marketing opportunities for rural products in South East Asia. He widened the rural sector’s sense of the possible.