Evans

Two men with the name Harry Evans have played senior football at Carlton. The first appeared in eight matches between 1899 and 1901. The second was Harold Gordon Evans, a local lad from Royal Park. Among the smallest of all players to have worn the navy blue, he stood just 164 cm, weighed in at 60 kg, and was recruited from our neighbouring amateur side Carlton District in 1913.

Wearing guernsey number 29, Evans played on the wing at Princes Park in both his matches; a 12-point victory over Richmond on debut, and a 23-point defeat by Fitzroy a fortnight later. Apparently something of a feisty character, he refused to be intimidated and was always ready for a scrap.

At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Evans volunteered for active service and spent almost four years overseas. In February 1917, he contracted pleurisy, and was hospitalised for many months. A year later, he was wounded by a bullet that grazed his shoulder. Happily, he recovered his health, and saw out the last few months of the war as a signaller, before returning to his family home in Sydney Road, Carlton in April, 1919.

Harry passed away in January 1973, at the age of 84 at Heidelberg

Born: 28 February 1889 at Parkville Vic.
Service No. 1378
29th Battalion AIF 1st - 6th Reinforcements
Age on Enlistment: 26 yrs 5 mths. at 21 July 1915.
Occupation: Warehouseman
Embarked: HMAT Ascanius A11 Port Melbourne 10 November 1915
Father: W. F. Evans, Sydney Road Royal Park.