Harry Flower Explained

Harry Flower
Fullname:Harold Edwin Flower
Birth Date:30 October 1900[1]
Birth Place:Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Death Place:Beverly Hills, New South Wales, Australia
Retired:yes
Club1:St. George
Year1start:1922
Year1end:30
Appearances1:58
Tries1:6
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:18
Teama:New South Wales
Yearastart:1924
Appearancesa:1
Triesa:0
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:0
Teamb:Metropolis
Yearbstart:1923
Appearancesb:1
Triesb:0
Goalsb:0
Fieldgoalsb:0
Pointsb:0
Updated:12 June 2019
Source:[2]

Harold Edwin 'Harry' Flower (30 October 1900 − 6 September 1970) was an Australian World War II veteran, a prisoner of war and a 1920s rugby league player in the New South Wales premiership competition with St. George.

Background

Flower was born in Newtown, New South Wales on 30 October 1900.

Playing career

Flower learnt to play rugby league at a young age and was also a great runner, running marathons with the Redfern and St. George Harriers clubs.[3] Originally a South Sydney junior and prop-forward, Flower played eight seasons with St. George during their foundation years between 1922 and 1930.

He scored a try in the infamous Earl Park Riot match in 1928. His last game was the 1930 Grand Final against Western Suburbs.[4]

His brother Jim Flower also played with the St. George Dragons.

War service

Flower enlisted in the Australian Army as a 40-year-old during World War II and attained the rank of lance corporal.[5] He was captured and held by the Japanese as a prisoner of war, and survived. His 19-year-old son (Harry Edwin Flower junior) also served in the Australian Army and survived the war.

Death

Flower died on 6 September 1970, 54 days short of his 70th birthday.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WWII roll . 29 September 2014 . 19 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181019205542/http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?serviceId=A&veteranId=170315 . dead .
  2. Web site: Harry Flower - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project. Rugbyleagueproject.org.
  3. The Referee, Sydney "harry Flower Still Blooms" 13/1/1932
  4. Alan Whiticker/Glen Hudson: Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. 1995 --
  5. Web site: Flower's WWII Roll . 29 September 2014 . 19 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181019205542/http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?serviceId=A&veteranId=170315 . dead .
  6. Sydney Morning Herald- Death Notice 7/9/1970