Thomas William Wright Killiby (1898–1963) was an Australian

WWI World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

artilleryman and a first grade

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

player who played in the 1920s and 1930s. He was pioneer player in Sydney with the

St. George Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldier ...

club at their foundation.

War Service

Born in Sydney, Killiby was a long-time resident of

Sans Souci, New South Wales Sans Souci () is a Southern Sydney suburb in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Sans Souci is 17 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and lies across the local government areas of the Bayside Council and the Georges Riv ...

. He was a veteran of World War I and enlisted in the AIF in 1916 before his eighteenth birthday. He was an artilleryman in a light trench mortar battery and embarked for the Western Front in Oct 1916 on ''HMAT Ceramic''. He returned to Sydney at war's end in 1919.

St George career

Killiby was a foundation player for

and played ten seasons at the club between 1921-1930 and 1933. He kicked the only goal in St George's first recorded trial match against Glebe.A prop forward, Killiby played in the Saints' first finals appearance in

1927 Events January * January 1 – The British Broadcasting ''Company'' becomes the British Broadcasting ''Corporation'', when its Royal Charter of incorporation takes effect. John Reith becomes the first Director-General. * January 7 * ...

. Upon his playing retirement Killiby stayed involved with the club as a trainer, masseur and gear steward. He was a trainer for the Dragons' 1941 premiership winning side and also trained

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

representative teams during the 1940s and 1950s.

Death

Killiby died on 1 October 1963, aged 65 and is buried at Woronora Cemetery, Sutherland.Sydney Morning Herald, Death Notice 2/10/1963

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Killiby, Tom 1898 births 1963 deaths Australian rugby league players Rugby league second-rows Rugby league props Rugby league locks Rugby league players from Sydney Australian military personnel of World War I Burials at Woronora Memorial Park St. George Dragons players