William Malcolm was one of eight ex-soldiers who played for Claremont in their all conquering 1923 season when they won all three trophies on offer and remained undefeated. In his tribute to the team, ‘Nemo’ in The Western Chronicle wrote, “W. Malcolm (goalkeeper): Australian born and bred, and a product of Claremont State School. Played with the juniors, and after his return from the war graduated from last season’s successful Glebe team into senior ranks.”
Private William Malcolm enlisted as soon as he was eligible to serve as an 18 year in June 1917. On 4 July 1918, while in the field in France, he received a gun shot wound to the abdomen. He was transferred to England to recover and then invalided on 7 September 1918. Fortunately, Malcolm made a full recovery from his wartime injury and made a successful return to the Claremont team. William Malcolm married Alice May and lived to the age of 80, passing away in Nedlands, WA, in 1979.