Alan Tait (Australian footballer)

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]

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 was awarded the Military Cross, the citation reading: “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.”[3]

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.[4] Returning to Australia in 1919, he gained his Diploma of Education and married Dorothy Ada Tate in 1920.[5] He joined the Geelong College staff in 1920 and later served as Vice-Principal from 1939 until his retirement in 1957.[6]