John James Graham Colclough (15 October 1883 – 28 April 1954) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).Holmesby & Main (2014), p.163
Family The son of Richard Colclough (1839–1908),Deaths: Colclough, The Argus, (Friday, May 1908), p.1. and Jean Colclough (1849–1927), née Graham,Marriages: Colclough—Graham, The Australasian, (Saturday, 26 August 1882), p.7.Deaths: Colclough, The Argus, (Thursday, 9 June 1927), p.1. John James Graham Colclough was born at Ascot Vale, Victoria on 15 October 1883.Births: Colclough, The Australasian, (Saturday, 27 October 1883), p.14.
He married twice: He married Mary Grant (1878–1914) on 3 March 1908;Weddings: Mr. G. Colclough to Miss M. Grant, (Melbourne) Punch, Thursday, 26 March 1908), p.31; Marriages: Colclough—Grant, The Argus, (Saturday, 25 April 1908), p.13; Marriages: Colclough—Grant, The (Melbourne) Leader, (Saturday, 2 May 1908), p.51.Deaths: Colclough, The Geelong Advertiser, (Wednesday, 4 November 1914), p.1; Deaths: Colclough, The Argus, (Wednesday, 4 November 1914), p.1. they had two sons: Richard Roy Grant Colclough (1908–1985), and John Graham Colclough (1914–1916).Deaths: Colclough, The Argus, (Tuesday, 4 April 1916), p.1. He married Annie Isabella McNaughton (1890–1977) in 1925; they had one daughter: Janet Isobel Colclough (1927–), later, Mrs. Dimmick.Engagements: Colclough—Dimmick, The Argus, Friday, 30 July 1948), p.7.
Education Educated at Scotch College, Melbourne, he played with the school's First XVII in 1899, 1900, and 1901.
Football Melbourne He played 11 games for Melbourne in 1901, while he was still attending Scotch College (which, at the time, was located in East Melbourne); and, on one occasion, he missed a game because he needed to study for a Monday school examination.An Uninteresting Game, The Argus, (Monday, 20 May 1901), p.9..
Ballarat In 1902 he was cleared from Melbourne to play with Ballarat Football Club.Sporting News: Ballarat Football Association, The Ballarat Star, (Thursday, 15 May 1902), p.6. He played with the club for four seasons (1902–1905).
Military career Stating that his occupation was "stock and station agent, he enlisted in the First AIF on 11 November 1915.
He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) in 1917. He was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre in 1918. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant in April 1918.A Tale of Gallantry, The Age, (Monday, 30 May 1921), p.6; An Australian at the War": Sergeant Colclough's Gallantry, The Age, (Tuesday, 31 May 1921), p.8.Meredith: Soldier Returns, The Ballarat Star, (Wednesday, 18 June 1919), p.6.
Death He died at Richmond, Victoria on 28 April 1954.Deaths: Colclough, The Argus, (Friday, 30 April 1954), p.17.
Notes
References
First World War Nominal Roll: Second Lieutenant John James Colclough (5073), Australian War Memorial. First World War Service Record: Second Lieutenant John James Graham Colclough (5073), National Archives of Australia. Recommendation for the award of Distinguished Conduct Medal (29 September 1917), Collection of the Australian War Memorial: note that the recommendation, mistakenly, has his service number as 5072. Distinguished Conduct Medal: (awards announced on 19 November 1917): No.5073 Sergeant J. G. G. Colclough, Infantry, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No.95, (Thursday, 27 June 1918), p.1395. Decorations Conferred by His Majesty the King of the Belgians: Croix de Guerre: 3rd. Military District: No. 5073 Sergeant John James Graham Colclough, D.C.M., 58th Battalion, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No.185, (Wednesday, 27 November 1918), p.2262. Australian Imperial Force: A.I.F. Lists 405—408: 3rd Military District: Colclough, No.5073 Sergeant John James Graham, D.C.M., late 58th Battalion (effective 4 November 1918), Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No.18, (Thursday, 6 February 1919), p.176.
External links
Graham Colclough: Demonwiki. Graham Colclough: australianfootball.com.