An Old Identity Passes.

On Wednesday, l7 October, 1956, there passed away, at the age of 84, one of the identities of Taringa. He was Major G.A. Williams, affectionately known to all the district as "The Major". The son of a soldier he left his native Portsmouth and arrived in Brisbane at the age of 12.

After working for a furniture-maker, and as a clerk in the Ordinance Stores (during which period he was a member of the Queensland Volunteer Rifles, later becoming Colour-sergeant in the original Moreton Regiment), he went to the Boer War as Sergeant Major with the 5^th Queensland Imperial Bushmen.

Peace having been signed at Vereeniging he returned home and was posted to Clermont as Instructor to the Light Horse of that district, arriving there during a very severe drought.

His next transfer was to Rockhampton where his office was in the old Customs House.

Some five years later, he was moved to Brisbane where he was attached to the Moreton Regiment and later to the Oxley Regiment (formerly the Q.V.R.)

The outbreak of World War[I] saw him as an officer of the 15th Bn. A.I.F. but his services were required in other spheres and he became Camp Sergeant MaJor at Enoggera, giving special attention to Musketry Instruction.

Following this period, he was senior Warrant Officer with the Moreton Regt. at Barry Parade, the 26^th Bn. at Annerley, 9/15 at Kelvin Grove and at Victoria Barracks. At some point during this period he received his commission and had attained the rank of Major when he retired in 1932 [does not accord with his Army record].

In addition to what may be called his normal activities as a soldier, he found or made time to engage, with some considerable degree of success, in such sports as cricket, running, high-jumping, swimming and life-saving. In connection with the last-mentioned, he conducted, for quite a number of years, courses for teachers of the Queensland Dept. of Public Instruction, usually at Southport. He was a first-class rifleman, competing with a fair measure of success in some of the big prize meetings, being chosen as one of the team to shoot at Bisley. The old ranges at Toowong and Ekibin, at which he was often to be seen are now, of course, things of the past

Upon his retirement, he entered new spheres of activities.

As chairman of the Taringa Branch of the Q.P.P. (?), he was very active. For some years he was an active member of the Progress Association of his district resigning as chairman a little over a year ago. The South African Veterans' Association also, knew him as President for some 10 years, and they knew him, also, as one who would not miss a meeting or a parade if it was at all possible for him to attend.

Despite a very full programme, he still found time to play quite a fair game of bowls.

Then, during World War II, he was appolnted Air Raid Warden for the Taringa/Toowong district and, as something else to keep him busy, he was appointed a Justice of the Peace.

During the Royal Visit (Queen Elizabeth in 1954), he, with his wife, had the honour of being presented to Her Majesty.

However, on New Year's Day 1955, he had the great misfortune to fracture his thigh, and this most seriously curtailed his activity. Then, about four weeks ago he suffered a cerebral thrombosis which did not respond to treatment and, as a result, there passes from the district where, for so many years, he has given of himself, one who may be and has been very truly described as "An Officer and a Gentleman".

George Alfred is supposedly the man who sat for the statue commemorating the Boer War in Anzac Square.

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