BIO

Hamilton Williams and his older brother Charles were prominent players for the Norwood reserves team in the SA Football Association through the 1930s.

Hamilton did gain promotion once, as 19th man for the league team in the last minor round game of 1938.  With the final four settled, the result was of little consequence.  Port Adelaide eased off at the end as Norwood raced away to win 18.19 to 12.14, with Ron Brown notching eight goals.  Port turned the tables in the finals, beating Norwood twice before losing to South Adelaide in the grand final.

That year, however, Hamilton celebrated his second successive premiership win over Port, shining in his accustomed position of centre wing as Norwood took the association grand final by three points, 16.11 to 15.14.  Altogether he played 20 reserves games in 1937-38 and kicked two goals.

Charles also enjoyed two association premiership wins over Port, in 1930 and with his brother in 1937.  In 1937 he won the Wooley Trophy for leading association goalkicker, with a tally of 83 goals in 13 games, booting 15 against South in round 13 and 20 against North a week later.  He kicked 99 goals in 44 association games for Norwood in 1930-31, 1934 and 1937-38.

Hamilton was born to Charles Alfred Williams and his wife Daisy, née Hamilton, at Norwood on 1 April 1912.  His brother Charles Walter had arrived in Collingwood, Victoria, on 16 August 1909.  They had sisters Jessie (1907) and Vera (1916).

Both brothers served as AIF corporals in World War II.  Hamilton enlisted at Maylands on 8 July 1940 and was with the 6th Corps of Signals upon discharge on 8 January 1946. Charles enlisted on 6 June 1940 and was with the 2/23 Field Park Company when discharged on 6 July 1945.

Hamilton married Marjorie Schauer and they had one child.  Hamilton died at Hope Valley on 5 June 2001 and is buried at Enfield Cemetery.  Charles married Barbara Rowe at Holy Trinity Church, Adelaide, in 1939 and they may have had a daughter, Margaret.  Charles died in Adelaide on 5 May 1886.

P. Robins, D. Cox, G. Adams May 2021