McWILLIAM, George (1878-1968) George McWilliam was born at Richmond on 3 February 1878, the son of Alexander McWilliam and Annie nee Londrigan. He became a boarder at Geelong College on 4 October 1889 listing his address as Victoria St, Williamstown.
George was a member of the 1st Football Teams of 1893 and 1894 and the 1st Cricket Team of 1893. He played with Fitzroy Football Club in the VFL in 1907-1909, playing in 18 games.
He married Eva Marie Moroni, daughter of Phillip Moroni and Barbara Summers, and they lived at Lambeth Place, St Kilda.
During World War I, he was working as a chemist when he enlisted (No. 16939) on 23 July 1915, aged 37. He embarked from Melbourne on
HMAT A42 Boorara for Egypt on 10 May 1917. He served as a Staff Sergeant with the Australian Camel Brigade Field Ambulance.
George McWilliam died on 21 May 1968 aged 90.
His brother,
John McWilliam (1875-1916), who was killed in action on 11 August 1916 at Pozieres during World War I, was also educated at Geelong College.
His half-brother Lieutenant Stirling Alexander McWilliam, 9th Light Horse (graduated RMC, Duntroon), was killed on Gallipoli, at Walker’s Ridge, on 30 May 1915, his name is commemorated on Special Memorial 16 in Walker’s Ridge Cemetery.
Sources: Based on an edited extract from Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p 261 (citing The Pegasus; National Archives).