George McWilliam explained

George McWilliam
Fullname:George Vincent McWilliam
Birth Date:3 February 1878
Birth Place:Richmond, Victoria
Death Place:Parkville, Victoria
Originalteam:Eaglehawk
Height:178 cm
Statsend:1909
Years1:1907–09
Games Goals1:18 (1)

George Vincent McWilliam (3 February 1878 – 21 May 1968) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]

Educated at Geelong College, McWilliam was a member of the 1st Football Teams of 1893 and 1894 and the 1st Cricket Team of 1893.[2] He married Eva Marie Moroni in 1900 and became a chemist, initially living in Williamstown. They moved to Eaglehawk around 1903 and George quickly became a leading footballer in the Bendigo district and captain of the Eaglehawk team.[3] In 1907 he was recruited by Fitzroy[4] and played a total of 18 games for them. He later returned to Eaglehawk, playing with them until he left the district in 1915.[5]

McWilliam enlisted to serve in World War I on 23 July 1915, aged 37. He embarked from Melbourne on HMAT A42 Boorara for Egypt on 10 May 1917 and served as a Staff Sergeant with the Australian Camel Brigade Field Ambulance.[6]

After his return to Australia he worked and lived in Ascot Vale for many years until his death in 1968.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Holmesby, Russell. The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 . Main. Jim . 2014 . 10th . 978-1-921496-32-5 . BAS Publishing . Seaford, Victoria . 601.
  2. Web site: Heritage Guide to The Geelong College: George McWILLIAM . The Geelong College.
  3. News: FOOTBALL NOTES. . The Bendigo Independent . 10,949 . Victoria, Australia . 1 July 1905 . 6.
  4. News: FOOTBALL NOTES. . The Australasian . LXXXII . 2,149 . Victoria, Australia . 8 June 1907 . 26.
  5. News: SPORTSMAN LEAVES BOROUGH. . The Bendigo Independent . 13,775 . Victoria, Australia . 13 March 1915 . 5.
  6. Book: Cullen, Barbara . Harder than football : league players at war . 187 . 2015 . Richmond, Victoria . Slattery Media Group . 978-0-992379-14-8.