Alan Taylor Tait MC (29 April 1891 – 10 August 1969)[1] was an Australian educator, decorated World War I soldier and an Australian rules footballer who played with the University Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[2]
| Alan Tait | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Alan Taylor Tait | ||
| Date of birth | 29 April 1891 | ||
| Place of birth | Armadale, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 10 August 1969 (aged 78) | ||
| Place of death | Parkville, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | Ormond College / Geelong College | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1911 | University | 1 (0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1911. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
The son of Rev. George Tait and Mary Agnes Sym, Alan Tait was born in the eastern part of Melbourne in 1891. He attended Geelong College from 1903 – 1908, being a School Prefect and a prominent member of its football, cricket and athletics teams. He then attended the University of Melbourne, and during 1911 made his single VFL appearance in a game against Collingwood where University failed to score a goal.
He was studying at the University of Edinburgh in 1914 and enlisted to serve in World War I with the Royal Scots. He served in France, and in April 1917, after receiving an officer's commission,[3] was awarded the Military Cross, the citation, which appeared in The London Gazette in July 1918, reading as follows:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in vacating, under orders, a position and withdrawing to a sunken road, and then retaking the same position in the face of a very heavy fire. He held this position until it became untenable and then was ordered to withdraw. His coolness was magnificent, and he showed himself a fine leader of men.[4][5]
At the end of the war he returned to New College and completed his training as a theological student, and was licensed by the Presbytery of Edinburgh of the United Free Church of Scotland.[6] Returning to Australia in 1919, he gained his Diploma of Education and married Dorothy Ada Tate in 1920.[7] He joined the Geelong College staff in 1920 and later served as Vice-Principal from 1939 until his retirement in 1957.[8]
Sources edit
- ^ "Alan Tait – Player Bio". Australian Football. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Bas Publishing. p. 866. ISBN 978-1-921496-32-5.
- ^ "No. 30082". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 May 1917. p. 4930.
- ^ "No. 30813". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 July 1918. p. 8849.
- ^ Cullen, Barbara (2015). Harder than football : league players at war. Richmond, Victoria: Slattery Media Group. ISBN 978-0-992379-14-8.
- ^ "SCOTS COLLEGE". The Brisbane Courier. Queensland, Australia. 23 October 1930. p. 3.
- ^ "Family Notices". The Argus. Victoria, Australia. 13 July 1920. p. 1.
- ^ "TAIT, Alan Taylor MC (1891-1969)". The Geelong College.
External links edit
- Alan Tait's playing statistics from AFL Tables