The case of Walter Williams is particularly tragic but is also an interesting example of how research can approach and learn from such events.
Walter William WILLIAMS
Regimental number 1195
Place of birth London, England
Religion Church of England
Occupation Farm hand
Marital status Single
Age at embarkation 20
Next of kin
G H Williams, 88 Neptune Street, Rotherlithe, London, England
Enlistment date 12 September 1914
Place of enlistment Casterton, Victoria
Rank on enlistment Private
Unit name 14th Battalion, G Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number 23/31/1
Embarkation details
Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A38 Ulysses on 22 December 1914
Rank from Nominal Roll Private
Unit from Nominal Roll 14th Battalion
Fate Returned to Australia 5 March 1919
Advocate (Burnie), Monday 21 June 1920, page 3
VICTORIAN FOOTBALL
CHAPTERS OF ACCIDENTS.
TWO BROKEN' LEGS AND CONCUSSION.
MELBOURNE, Sunday.-S. Kennedy (Melbourne Juniors) had one of his legs broken through a kick in the match yesterday against Fitzroy Juniors.
William Williams, in the match (soccer) Northcote against Northumberland and Durham, sustained concussion of the brain.
John Kelly, in a match at Woodstock, had one of his legs broken.
Argus , Monday 28 June 1920, page 9
DEATH OF FOOTBALLER.
Walter William Williams, a returned soldier, 26 year of age, who was admitted to the Melbourne Hospital on June 19, suffering from injuries received while playing in a soccer football match at Preston, died on Saturday afternoon. He had fallen on head, and sustained compression of the brain and concussion, from which he did not regain consciousness. Williams lived in Drummond street, Carlton.
Argus, Monday 28 June 1920, page 1
WILLIAMS.-The Friends of the late Mr. WALTER (Wally) WILLIAMS (late A.I.F.-Anzac) are respectfully invited to follow his remains to the place of interment, Coburg Cemetery.
The funeral will leave the residence of Mrs. Thomas, 21 Drummond street, Carlton, THIS DAY (Monday, 23th inst.), at half-past 3 o'clock.
JOHN DALEY, Enbalmer and Undertaker,
Latrobe and Spring streets, Melbourne. Tel. 827.
WlLLIAMS. PRESTON BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB. All Soccer Players please meet at Trades Hall, corner of Victoria street, Carlton at 3 p.m. sharp, to follow the remains of the late member of the above club, WALTER WILLIAM WILLIAMS, to Coburg Cemetery.
C. VICTRESS, Hon. Sec.
Herald, Saturday 18 September 1920, page 3
British Association
A friendly game of British Association football was played between N. and D. and Preston clubs at Middle Park in aid of funds for erecting a memorial tombstone to Walter William Williams, who died from injuries received in the game between these two teams on June 19. A satisfactory amount was received as a result of a collection taken up on the ground. Teams representing Windsor and Osborne House Submarine Clubs played a return match match. At half-time Windsor had kicked one goal to nil.
Support from elsewhere in Australia as well. I speculated that it might have been the first soccer death in Australia but there was at least one before that. William Hollings of the Balmain-Fernleigh Club died from lockjaw after breaking his arm on the field.
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