George Tapp could only enlist in November 1915 because the age limit had been lifted in July from 38 to 45. He was 40 at the time, an insurance broker in Toowoomba, but was more closely connected with Ipswich.
The Tapp family had a long association with soccer in Ipswich. Uncle Jacob played for Callbacks and was a prominent referee. Tapp’s far younger cousin Thomas, Jacob’s son, played for various Ipswich teams and would be killed in the war.
Richard, another cousin from a different uncle, played for Blackstone Rovers at the turn of the century and also enlisted at 40. George played alongside Richard as Rovers met Dinmore Bush Rats in the final of the 1900 Ipswich and West Moreton competition. Despite the Queensland Times of 25 September highlighting the play of the “musical George Tapp”, Rovers lost the final 3-0.
He married Rosanna Price in 1902, and they had three children. They eventually moved to Toowoomba, as other members of the extended family moved to the Newcastle region, though there was a continual Tapp presence in Ipswich for decades after.
Tapp embarked for Egypt within days of enlisting. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on New Years Day 1916. On the same day tragedy struck as Rosanna died in hospital of typhoid and pneumonia. At the time, their children were 15, 11 and 6. Tapp would not see them again until he returned to Australia after the war. He seems to have spent his entire war in Egypt where he worked at the Australian Remount Depot and was eventually promoted to Sergeant. Tapp arrived back in Australia in 1919.
After rejoining his family back in Ipswich, he moved to Cunnamulla by mid-1920. A year later he married Emma Layt, 8 years his senior, and it appears they lived in Bundaberg. Emma passed away in 1934, aged 66.
Tapp then enlisted for home service during the Second World War in 1940. This time he had to lie about his age, claiming he was 53 instead of 64. His address at the time was Kingaroy, and his next of kin was eldest child Laviah, who was still living in Ipswich. Tapp was discharged as medically unfit in 1941.
Tapp next moved to Cloncurry and then Innisfail. His sons George and John followed him north. Other members of the extended Tapp family continued to play soccer in Ipswich and Newcastle for many years.
Tapp died in Innisfail in 1952.