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The Spike or Victoria College Review, October 1903

Obituary — Alfred James Will

page 39

Obituary

Alfred James Will.

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Like a thunder-bolt the sad news bus fallen among us of the untimely death on the 3rd of October of Alfred James Will, who has been a prominent and popular student among us since the beginning of 1901. He had not been in his usual health for a little over a week prior to his death, and on Wednesday, 1st October, he was taken to a private hospital, where an operation was performed on the following day, death resulting on Saturday afternoon, from appendicitis.

Mr. Will was in his 28th year, having been born at Weather-stone in Otago, on the 14th April, 187G. He lost both parents at a very early age; was educated at the Lawrence District High School, of which he became Dux, also gaining a scholarship there. He came 9th on the Junior Civil Service List in 1893; passed the Senior Civil Service in 1897; the Matriculation and Solicitors' General Knowledge in 1898. He had kept two years' terms at Victoria College, and was to have sat for the first section of the LL.B. in November next.

On the 22nd May, 1893, he entered the Civil Service as a cadet in the Treasury; was transferred to the Railway Department as a cadet at Waikouaiti in 1894; promoted to District Traffic Manager's Office in Dunedin in 1896, and since April, 1897 has been in the Head Office of the Railway Department in Wellington.

While he was at Victoria College, all who had the good fortune to know him came to regard him with feelings of friendship and respect. His was a nature which always looked on the bright side of things, and his keen wit and jovial disposition made him a cheerful and attractive companion.

He was a fine all-round athlete and a true sportsman. For several years he was a member of the Red Cross Association Football Club, and was a junior rep. in 1900. He represented Victoria College in Tennis at the first Easter Tournament in 1902; was a conspicuous member of the Hockey Club in 1902; whilst during the season just closed he not only played for the first fifteen, but also for the Hockey Club when there was no football.

To his personal friends his death is a deep sorrow, and the whole College has been visibly affected by the sad news. A large number of students and members of the Professorial Board followed his remains to the Karori cemetery, and wreaths were sent by the Students' Association, the Football, the Hockey, and the Tennis Clubs.