Harry Flower
Australian rugby league footballer
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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.
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Harold Edwin Flower | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 30 October 1900[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 6 September 1970 (aged 69) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Lock, Second-row, Prop | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Jim Flower (brother) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Military career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance |  Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Branch | Australian Army | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service years | 1940-1945 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Lance corporal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unit | Second Australian Imperial Force | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conflicts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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]
