William Gripton failed his initial AIF medical and was later shot in the foot on the Western Front, but still managed to play six seasons in Adelaide after the war.
Born in Shrewsbury in 1893, Gripton was in Adelaide by 1913 where he was employed as a steward. Attempting to enlist in June 1916 he was rejected on medical grounds, said to have an “arterial condition”- arteries could be seen “visibly pulsating” in his neck! He was also noted as a heavy smoker. Despite this he claimed to be in good health and had served briefly with the Territorials in England.
In October he passed his second medical and finally headed overseas on the Berrima in December 1916 with the 23rd reinforcements for the 10th Battalion. Within a short time of his arrival in England, Gripton caught VD from a prostitute in London, and subsequently earned several charges for AWL and ill discipline. However, on 18th September 1918 he was shot in the foot at Jeancourt, the 10th Battalion’s last battle. This was the battle in which the 10th Battalion’s left-wing firebrand Jack Zwolsman won the Military Medal.
It is very likely that Gripton and Zwolsman were comrades, and they would play for the same soccer clubs together after the war. Gripton was back in Adelaide by early 1919. The bullet wound was close to the Achilles Tendon and the bullet had passed right through. It was said to be healing well, and within weeks he was playing soccer for the Tramways club which was one of only five clubs to return to the SABFA competition in 1919. He was noted scoring in a 1-1 draw with Hindmarsh in August.
Diminutive and lightly built, Gripton appears as an inside right in some published team lineups. He joined Zwolsman at North Athletics in 1920. They both scored in a narrow 3-2 loss to top team Cheltenham in September. The pair continued playing together in 1921 when Athletics changed their name to Prospect. Gripton joined North Adelaide in 1922, and played well in a thrilling Cambridge Cup semi final against Sturt, his side losing 1-0. Zwolsman joined Gripton at North Adelaide in 1923.
1924 was the final playing season for the 10th Battalion pair. With Zwolsman winding down his playing career at North, Gripton joined the Second Division club St Peters. The eastern suburbs club had not been seen since 1915 and had been revived for just one season. With a district system established in 1925 the number of clubs was reduced from eighteen to eight, which meant that many players, including Anzac veterans, were unable to get a game.
There are no further records of William Gripton after 1924, either on Trove or SA Genealogy.