William Garrity

William (Bill) Garrity grew up in Broomhill, Western Australia, and as a young man moved to Albany where he was employed by the local municipality. By about the age of 35 he joined the Australian Garrison Artillery at Albany rising to the rank of Sergeant. His prowess with the quick-firer Hotchkiss gun at 4,000 yards was praised by Lord Kitchener during his visit in 1910. He joined the Plantagenet (now Albany) Rifle Club and quickly made a name for himself for his shooting prowess. When only in his third year of rifle shooting, he won the chief prize at Albany with 104 out of 105 over three ranges. He then travelled to Perth and won the Metters prize at the Karrakatta Rifle Range (Head Quarters of the National Rifle Association of WA) with 13 bulls eyes (being the top score of 5 for each shot) at 600 yards.

In 1907 he competed at the Perth King’s prize meeting where he came 16th and 9th in the Aggregate score for the whole competition. Before 1910, the State had two Associations with their own King’s Prize Meetings: Goldfields (Kalgoorlie) and Coastal (Perth). From 1910 one King's Prize meeting was held each year, alternating between Kalgoorlie and Karrakatta, until 1921, when it was found that the Commonwealth range at Kalgoorlie could not cope with the increasing numbers of competitors.

He travelled to Kalgoorlie in 1910 won the King’s Prize (he won a second King’s Prize in 1927 at Swanbourne). This success was so well received at his club in Albany that a ‘smoke social’ was held in his honour at the White Star Hotel. Over 60 people were told of his success and informed that he had won 12 pounds 10 shillings in cash, a gold medal valued at 5 guineas and the King’s badge. The crowd were told of his prowess at wind reading in the final stage at 1000 yards where a gale required adjustment of 22 to 27 minutes on his sights. The evening concluded with singing and a piano recital.

In 1913 he secured selection as an emergency substitute for the national team, no doubt based partly on shooting 34 bulls’ eyes in succession at the Karrakatta ranges as follows: seven shots at 300 yard and 27 shots at 500 yards. As it transpired, he was not required to shoot in the national team but won several prizes for individual competition including a bronze cross and a King’s badge.

In 1920 he moved from Perth to Pinjarra but remained a member of the Perth Rifle Club. By 1922, Bill was working for the “Ways and Works” branch of the WA Government Railways. In that year he competed in the national competition during the annual King’s Prize meeting at Osborne (now Swanbourne) Rifle Range where he won a gold medal for achieving the highest score of a WA competitor and a bronze cross for 3rdplace in the grand aggregate. He also obtained 12th badge in the King’s competition.

In 1927 he was the winner of the King's Prize at Swanbourne. This was perhaps his greatest success as he was up against highly successful shooters E C Gare and A E Harris in a day of howling gales and driving rain. His final scores were reported in pictorial form in the newspapers. 

He was chaired from the mound to the pavilion, in a tradition that continues today, where he was greeted by the Governor (Sir William Campion); the new base commandant (Brigadier-General C. H. Jess, C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O.); Lieut Colonel Hardie, D.S.O, O.B.E., and Commander Griffith Bowen (R.A.N). Bill won a cash prize of 20 pounds, a medal and a badge. [i]

His victory was once again celebrated by the community this time a dinner at the Pinjarra Railway Station Refreshment Rooms. There were many speeches and musical entertainment.

In all he represented the State eight times. He died on the 5 February 1949.

The Collections of the Perth Fremantle Rifle Club and the West Australian Rifle Association Museum represent many stories of individual and team successes in long distance target shooting in Western Australia.

[i] TROVE: Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955), Saturday 27 August 1927, page 6