Alfred Rowton Giblett (30 May 1908 – 19 June 1943) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He was killed in action in World War II.
Family Son of Samuel Robert Giblett (1873–1940),Deaths: Giblett, The Argus, (Monday, 16 December 1940), p.4. and Edith Sarah Giblett (1872–1956), née Small,Marriages: Giblett—Small, The Argus, (Saturday, 3 March 1900), p.9.Deaths: Giblett, The Argus, (Wednesday, 19 September 1956), p.14. Alfred Rowton Giblett was born at Warrnambool on 30 May 1908.Births: Giblett, The Argus, (Saturday, 6 June 1908), p.13.
He married Valma Olive Cocking (1911–1994), at Surrey Hill, on 21 December 1935. They had three children; Patricia Mary Aughterson (née Giblett) (1937–2020),Births: Giblett, (Monday, 3 May 1937), p.1. Anthony Jackson Giblett (1939–2010), and Lynne (1942–?).
Football Having been declared the best and fairest player in the A Grade of the Eastern Suburbs Churches Association in both 1933 and 1934,Eastern Suburbs Churches: A. Giblett Best and Fairest, The Argus, (Thursday, 30 August 1934), p.18.South Hawthorn United F.C.—Church Premiers, The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 12 September 1931), p.6.Permanent Holders of the Cup, The Sporting Globe (Saturday, 6 October 1934), p.7. Giblett was granted a clearance from South Hawthorn United (formerly South Hawthorn Presbyterians) to Hawthorn on 24 April 1935.League Clearances, The Argus, (Thursday, 25 April 1935), p.11.
Military service
He enlisted in the Second AIF and served overseas with the 2/24th Battalion.
Death He was reported "missing in action" whilst under light machine gun (L.M.G.) fire on 19 June 1943;Victorian Army Casualties: Australia and the Islands: Missing, The Argus, (Wednesday, 21 July 1943), p.5. and, on the basis of evidence that was presented to an official investigation, it was recommended that the official records be reclassified to read "Missing believed Killed"."Service and Casualty Form", within Service Record.Legal Notices, The Argus, (Thursday, 24 October 1946), p.15.
Commemorated He has no known grave. He is commemorated at the Port Moresby War Cemetery.Corporal Alfred Rowton Giblett (VX135886), Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
See also List of Victorian Football League players who died on active service
Footnotes
References Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing. Main, J. & Allen, D., "Giblett, Alf", pp. 249–253 in Main, J. & Allen, D., Fallen – The Ultimate Heroes: Footballers Who Never Returned From War, Crown Content, (Melbourne), 2002. World War Two Nominal Roll: Corporal Alfred Rowton Giblett (VX135886), Department of Veterans' Affairs. World War Two Service Record: Corporal Alfred Rowton Giblett (VX135886), National Archives of Australia. Roll of Honour: Corporal Alfred Rowton Giblett (VX135886), Australian War Memorial.
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