Alec Birrell
Personal information
Full name William Alexander Hamilton Birrell
Date of birth (1885-01-24)24 January 1885
Place of birth Laen, Victoria
Date of death 11 May 1948(1948-05-11) (aged 63)
Place of death Heidelberg, Victoria
Original team(s) 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

William Alexander Hamilton Birrell (24 January 1885 – 11 May 1948) was a doctor and an Australian rules footballer who played for University in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]

The oldest son of Albert Veit Birrell and Christina Matheson, Alec Birrell was born in Laen (near Donald, Victoria) and was educated at Geelong College where he was a prominent member of the school football team.[2]

He proceeded to study medicine at the University of Melbourne[3] and during his student years Birrell was promoted from the seconds to play one VFL match for University against South Melbourne in the first round of the 1911 VFL season.[4]

After graduating as a doctor in 1914, he served with the 20th Light Horse and British Royal Army Medical Corps in World War I.[5] Upon his return to Australia, Birrell practiced in Nathalia for several years.[6] Birrell was also Vice President of the Nathalia Football Club in 1923.[7]

Birrell later brought into a medical practice in Cheltenham, Victoria in 1927.[8]

In 1920, he married Mary Adela Lane[9] and they had three children together. He died in the Repatriation Hospital in Heidelberg on 11 May 1948.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2002). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (4th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Crown Content. p. 47. ISBN 1-74095-001-1.
  2. ↑ "GEELONG COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM, 1904". Punch. Victoria, Australia. 6 October 1904. p. 17.
  3. ↑ "UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE". The Argus. Victoria, Australia. 20 November 1908. p. 7.
  4. ↑ "SOUTH MELBOURNE IN FORM". The Argus. Victoria, Australia. 1 May 1911. p. 5.
  5. ↑ Cullen, Barbara (2015). Harder than football : league players at war. Richmond, Victoria: Slattery Media Group. p. 117. ISBN 978-0-9923791-4-8.
  6. ↑ "NATHALIA". Shepparton Advertiser. Victoria, Australia. 7 May 1923. p. 4.
  7. ↑ "1923 - Nathalia FC - AGM". Numurkah Leader. 7 March 1923. p. 2. Retrieved 23 April 2020 – via Trove Newspapers.
  8. ↑ "1927 - Dr. Alec Birrell". Numurkah Leader. 30 March 1927. p. 2. Retrieved 23 April 2020 – via Trove Newspapers.
  9. ↑ "Family Notices". The Argus. Victoria, Australia. 25 September 1920. p. 13.
  10. ↑ "Family Notices". The Argus. Victoria, Australia. 14 May 1948. p. 2.


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