THE CAPTAIN J.S. MALPAS MEDAL
James Stanley MALPAS was the youngest of nine children to Henry and Anne MALPAS from WILLUNGA. The MALPAS family owned the land where the Fox Creek Winery has stood for over 100 years. The original cottages still on site are said to be over 130 years old.
James MALPAS received a Commission in the Australian Infantry Forces (A.I.F.) and embarked with the 27th Battalion as a Lieutenant in July, 1915. He was posted to Gallipoli in September, 1915, where he attained the rank of Captain. On November 5th, 1916, Captain MALPAS was wounded at the Battle of Flera and was decorated with the Military Cross, which was awarded for "conspicuous gallantry in action".
He displayed great resourcefulness and dash in getting his company out of an almost impossible position in the trenches, where he was severely wounded. He received a sever gunshot wound to the left armpit, with nerve injury and a superficial wound to the right forearm.
After Captain MALPAS returned from World War I he lived the rest of his life at WILLUNGA. Captain MALPAS and his family were very well respected in the WILLUNGA area and were heavily involved within the local community.
In 1928 and 1929, Captain MALPAS was the president of the Southern Football League, and so the League made the decision in 2004 to honour our ANZAC heroes in a special way. It was decided that from the 2005 season onwards the Grand Final teams from the previous year would play each ANZAC Day in a Grand Final replay and that the medal struck for the best player on the ground in the eyes of the umpires would be named after Captain MALPAS and be known as the Captain J.S. MALPAS Medalist in honour of a true ANZAC hero and former president of the Southern Football League.
Since the introduction of the MALPAS Medal the Southern Football League has been fortunate to have the twin nephews of Captain MALPAS, John and Peter MALPAS, to be present at the Grand Final replays to personally present this medal. Both John and Peter also served in the armed forces during World War II.
Last Modified on 03/09/2010 13:05