Over 200 (actually 211) different senior Carlton players are known to have enlisted in the Boer War, World War I or World War II.
See also Lower Grade Servicemen link at the bottom of the page.
A total of 91 Carlton players are known to have served in World War I, of whom 79 returned. (One Carlton VFA era player has been found - there are possibly more.)
They were :
Two of these players had also served in the Boer War. Eighteen others would also enlist for WW II, while one - Alex Johnston - served in all three conflicts.
Twelve of Carlton's sons were lost during World War I. They were: George Challis, Harold Daniel, Dave Gillespie, Albert Gourlay, Tom McCluskey, Fen McDonald, Stan McKenzie, Charlie Oliver, Alby Paterson, Jim Pender, Willie Rogers and Alf Williamson. May they rest in peace.
Fenley 'Fen' McDonald died in the first wave of the landings at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915, while George Challis was killed in action on July 15, 1916 as a Sergeant in the 58th Battalion, 1st AIF. Carlton learnt of his death shortly before the 1916 Preliminary Final, and all Carlton players in that match wore a black armband as a mark of respect. Albert Gourlay died of wounds in 1918 while he was serving with the New Zealand Army.
Of the 10 known wartime awards for bravery won by Carlton servicemen, the highest award went to Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Ross, who won the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for outstanding bravery and leadership in France in 1916.
1917
The Herald May 04 (p3)
"By the way Carlton is like the other clubs, well represented in kahki.
Three great players - Sergt. G. Challis, S. McKenzie, and F. McDonald have been killed in action.
Others in the colors of the glorious and "terrible Australians" as one admiring British war correspondent call them, are -
Capt. A. W. Williamson, Sgt-Major H. Burleigh, Sergt. A. Baud, Corporals T. Campbell, F. Holmes, F. Triplett, Bombardier M. T. Stockdale, Privates F. Fielding, V. Gordon, F. Hanna, A. Harrison, S. Kittle, P. Sweet (trainer)
Former players of Carlton now at the front are -
Dug Gillespie (whose brother Dave, the brilliant full-back in Carlton's triumphant years, died of wounds), R. Moran, H. Evans, Don, Starr, Cameron, Parke, H. Mathieson, and Les Beck."
133 other Blues served in WWII: Dave Arrell, Vin Arthur, Fred Ayers, George Bailey, Ted Baker, Ken Baxter, Bernie Bignell, Geoff Brokenshire, Ivor Brown, Monty Brown, Vin Brown, Clarrie Calwell, Chris Cameron, Gordon Cameron, Paul Cameron, Bruce Campbell, Charlie Canet, Jack Carney, Ern Carter, Harold Carter, Norm Cashin, Aub Charleston, Bob Chitty, Jim Clark, Len Clarke, George Collard, Lance Collins, Jack Conley, Jack S Cooper, Creswell 'Mickey' Crisp, Gordon Crisp, Len Crone, Jim Crowe, Fred Davies, Jim Davies, Bert Deacon, Brighton Diggins, Tom Dillon, Frank Donoghue, Johnny Downs, Harcourt Dowsley, Alex Duncan, Keith Dunn, Harvey Dunn, Tom Eldridge, Pat Farrelly, Alec Farrow, Frank Finn, Fred Fitzgibbon, Kevin Fox, Harry Furnell, Ray Garby, Wally Gibbins, Frank Gill, George Gniel, Bob Green, Ralph Green, Charlie Greenhill, Jack Greenhill, Allan Greenshields, Les Gregory, Ollie Grieve, Jack Guest, Alex Hanton, Hal Hanton, Ray Harry, Kevin Hart, Tom Hart, George Hawking, Ern Henfry, Clyde Hill, Ron Hines, Harry Hollingshead, Ken Hopper, Jack Howell, Les Hughson, Basil Hunter, Eric Huxtable, Alex Johnston, Jim Jones, Pat Kennedy, Tom Kennedy, Les Kittle, Darcy Lear, Bill Lever, Eric Little, Jack Loughnan, Bert Lucas, Cyril Mann, Les Marden, Fred Marriott, Ernie Martin, Harold Maskell, Harry Matheson, Ernie McAlpine, Les McCann, Jack McElroy, Frank McGrath, Charlie McInnes, Don McIntyre, Stewart McLatchie, Ken McLean, Rod McLean, Bert McTaggart, George Morrissey, Leo Opray, Percy Outram, Charlie Parsons, Noel Peverill, Keith Rae, Alan Rayson, Lance Regnier, Fred Rose, Gordon Ross, Harold Rumney, Paul Schmidt, Jim Shanahan, Ernie Sheil, Arch Shields, Jack Skinner, Arthur Sleith, Alan Sorrell, Ernie Spence, Bob Standfield, Charlie Street, Harry Toole, Graham Tudor, Clete Turner, Frank Walshe, Frank P Williams, Albert 'Jack' Williamson, Bob Wilson, Mac Wilson and Clinton Wines. 18 of these had also enlisted in WWI and one had enlisted in the Boer War and in WWI.
Some of these players enlisted, but were not required to serve, while other players were not allowed to enlist if they worked in essential services.
Of particular note is the fine service record of War-time medic, Harry Furnell, who would be appointed Commander in the order of the British Empire.
Carlton thirds captain (1944) Doug Mason was in the R.A.A.F. (Sun March 28 p14 1945)
The Sporting Globe 21 February p3 1942;
Carlton:
Essential Services; J. Bennett, P. Schmidt, A. Sanger, J. Mooring, C. McInnes, A. Price, R. Savage, F. Anderson, J. Wrout, R. McLean has several times enlisted and been rejected because of connection with essential services. R. Chitty is a munitions supervisor. F. Gill (M.C.C. employee)
A.I.F.; C. Mann, K. Baxter (Port Moresby), "Micky" Crisp (Darwin)
R.A.A.F. G. Bailey, H. Dowsley and D. McIntyre.
In Camp; J. Skinner, V. Brown and J. Carney.
The Australasian of June 3, 1944 (p11), writing about the death of Jim Park - said that standing alongside Jim when he was shot and killed was fellow Carlton player Jim or Joe Askew.
Joe Askew played in the Carlton Reserves 1938-1939.
(Carlton secretary J. E. Clinton.)
Mr. J. Clinton has received an interesting letter from F. Doyle, now somewhere in France.
He writes - 'For nerve thrillers you want to see air duels. Every day fights occur. Yesterday four Germans were brought down, and two officers killed. Today, they were buried with full miltary honors, the coffins (2) were placed side by side, in one grave, so you can see we treat the German dead with the greatest respect.
When the big guns fire, the earth, for miles around, shakes like an earthquake, and the row is worse than a million football barrackers. We have a kick of the football here in our spare time, as there are a lot of Australian footballers here. I often wonder how 'old' Carlton is going, and hope to be back in my old position next season.'
Was F. Doyle a Carlton footballer? Perhaps recruited, but hadn't played a senior game? Did he return from the War?
There was a VFL steward F. Boyle who was in France July 1916.
The Argus of 21 July, 1945 reported the following from Bougainville;
"A Japanese machine gun was firing from the flank on a forward company near the Mivo River. The enemy had been attacking for hours. The gun was visible only to Lieutenant Bob Dickinson, of Ashted Rd. Box Hill, Melbourne. He called to Pte. Charlie McKin, of Oakover Rd. Preston, Melbourne; "Can you get him?" McKin, who formerly played football for the Carlton team, replied, "Who do think I am, Harry Vallence?" (Carlton goalsneak).
McKin aimed his grenade discharger between two trees 40 yards away indicated by Dickinson. The first grenade wrecked the gun and killed the crew."
Charlie McKin is not listed above, but if anyone has any further information on this player, please contact the Blueseum.
The Border Morning Mail (Albury) Thursday August 05 1943, talking about four Army football teams playing next Sunday at Corowa and Albury.
2/AASC v Hume 18, one of the Hume players is Burnes from Carlton Seconds. The other two teams mentioned 4th Aust. W/S and 3/BOD (Albury) BOD's coach is Jim Crowe
See also Lower Grade Servicemen link at the bottom of the page.
Boer War
Six Blues enlisted in the Boer War, including Henry Crisfield, a policeman who played for Carlton during the 1902 season, and Charlie Meadway, who served in Africa in 1902 and played one game for Carlton in 1906. Both of these men also fought in World War I. Alex Johnston was a member of the 2nd Australian Commonwealth Horse (Vic) in South Africa during 1902, and also served in both World Wars. George Johnson had already served two years in the Royal Australian Artillery - stationed at the Queenscliff Barracks, when he enlisted for the Boer War on April 26, 1902. Bill Weir played for Carlton from 1896 to 1898 and then served in the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles in South Africa. He received the Queen's South Africa Medal and 3 clasps after seeing action in the Cape Colony, Orange Free State & Transvaal. Billy Arnott is the last of the six - his only Carlton game was in Round 14, 1897 before he served as a private with the 4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen.World War I
Note: September 2019, Blueseum was notified that Carlton VFA player Arthur 'Artie' Morehouse enlisted in the 52nd Bat. AIF in 1915 at the age of 49! He was wounded and returned to Australia in 1917.A total of 91 Carlton players are known to have served in World War I, of whom 79 returned. (One Carlton VFA era player has been found - there are possibly more.)
They were :
Two of these players had also served in the Boer War. Eighteen others would also enlist for WW II, while one - Alex Johnston - served in all three conflicts.
Twelve of Carlton's sons were lost during World War I. They were: George Challis, Harold Daniel, Dave Gillespie, Albert Gourlay, Tom McCluskey, Fen McDonald, Stan McKenzie, Charlie Oliver, Alby Paterson, Jim Pender, Willie Rogers and Alf Williamson. May they rest in peace.
Fenley 'Fen' McDonald died in the first wave of the landings at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915, while George Challis was killed in action on July 15, 1916 as a Sergeant in the 58th Battalion, 1st AIF. Carlton learnt of his death shortly before the 1916 Preliminary Final, and all Carlton players in that match wore a black armband as a mark of respect. Albert Gourlay died of wounds in 1918 while he was serving with the New Zealand Army.
Of the 10 known wartime awards for bravery won by Carlton servicemen, the highest award went to Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Ross, who won the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for outstanding bravery and leadership in France in 1916.
1917
The Herald May 04 (p3)
"By the way Carlton is like the other clubs, well represented in kahki.
Three great players - Sergt. G. Challis, S. McKenzie, and F. McDonald have been killed in action.
Others in the colors of the glorious and "terrible Australians" as one admiring British war correspondent call them, are -
Capt. A. W. Williamson, Sgt-Major H. Burleigh, Sergt. A. Baud, Corporals T. Campbell, F. Holmes, F. Triplett, Bombardier M. T. Stockdale, Privates F. Fielding, V. Gordon, F. Hanna, A. Harrison, S. Kittle, P. Sweet (trainer)
Former players of Carlton now at the front are -
Dug Gillespie (whose brother Dave, the brilliant full-back in Carlton's triumphant years, died of wounds), R. Moran, H. Evans, Don, Starr, Cameron, Parke, H. Mathieson, and Les Beck."
World War II
Five Carlton players died on active service in World War II: Wilf Atkinson, Jim Knight, Norm Le Brun, Jim Park and Henry Thomson133 other Blues served in WWII: Dave Arrell, Vin Arthur, Fred Ayers, George Bailey, Ted Baker, Ken Baxter, Bernie Bignell, Geoff Brokenshire, Ivor Brown, Monty Brown, Vin Brown, Clarrie Calwell, Chris Cameron, Gordon Cameron, Paul Cameron, Bruce Campbell, Charlie Canet, Jack Carney, Ern Carter, Harold Carter, Norm Cashin, Aub Charleston, Bob Chitty, Jim Clark, Len Clarke, George Collard, Lance Collins, Jack Conley, Jack S Cooper, Creswell 'Mickey' Crisp, Gordon Crisp, Len Crone, Jim Crowe, Fred Davies, Jim Davies, Bert Deacon, Brighton Diggins, Tom Dillon, Frank Donoghue, Johnny Downs, Harcourt Dowsley, Alex Duncan, Keith Dunn, Harvey Dunn, Tom Eldridge, Pat Farrelly, Alec Farrow, Frank Finn, Fred Fitzgibbon, Kevin Fox, Harry Furnell, Ray Garby, Wally Gibbins, Frank Gill, George Gniel, Bob Green, Ralph Green, Charlie Greenhill, Jack Greenhill, Allan Greenshields, Les Gregory, Ollie Grieve, Jack Guest, Alex Hanton, Hal Hanton, Ray Harry, Kevin Hart, Tom Hart, George Hawking, Ern Henfry, Clyde Hill, Ron Hines, Harry Hollingshead, Ken Hopper, Jack Howell, Les Hughson, Basil Hunter, Eric Huxtable, Alex Johnston, Jim Jones, Pat Kennedy, Tom Kennedy, Les Kittle, Darcy Lear, Bill Lever, Eric Little, Jack Loughnan, Bert Lucas, Cyril Mann, Les Marden, Fred Marriott, Ernie Martin, Harold Maskell, Harry Matheson, Ernie McAlpine, Les McCann, Jack McElroy, Frank McGrath, Charlie McInnes, Don McIntyre, Stewart McLatchie, Ken McLean, Rod McLean, Bert McTaggart, George Morrissey, Leo Opray, Percy Outram, Charlie Parsons, Noel Peverill, Keith Rae, Alan Rayson, Lance Regnier, Fred Rose, Gordon Ross, Harold Rumney, Paul Schmidt, Jim Shanahan, Ernie Sheil, Arch Shields, Jack Skinner, Arthur Sleith, Alan Sorrell, Ernie Spence, Bob Standfield, Charlie Street, Harry Toole, Graham Tudor, Clete Turner, Frank Walshe, Frank P Williams, Albert 'Jack' Williamson, Bob Wilson, Mac Wilson and Clinton Wines. 18 of these had also enlisted in WWI and one had enlisted in the Boer War and in WWI.
Some of these players enlisted, but were not required to serve, while other players were not allowed to enlist if they worked in essential services.
Of particular note is the fine service record of War-time medic, Harry Furnell, who would be appointed Commander in the order of the British Empire.
Carlton thirds captain (1944) Doug Mason was in the R.A.A.F. (Sun March 28 p14 1945)
The Sporting Globe 21 February p3 1942;
Carlton:
Essential Services; J. Bennett, P. Schmidt, A. Sanger, J. Mooring, C. McInnes, A. Price, R. Savage, F. Anderson, J. Wrout, R. McLean has several times enlisted and been rejected because of connection with essential services. R. Chitty is a munitions supervisor. F. Gill (M.C.C. employee)
A.I.F.; C. Mann, K. Baxter (Port Moresby), "Micky" Crisp (Darwin)
R.A.A.F. G. Bailey, H. Dowsley and D. McIntyre.
In Camp; J. Skinner, V. Brown and J. Carney.
The Australasian of June 3, 1944 (p11), writing about the death of Jim Park - said that standing alongside Jim when he was shot and killed was fellow Carlton player Jim or Joe Askew.
Joe Askew played in the Carlton Reserves 1938-1939.
Vietnam & Korean Wars
No Carlton player is listed as having served in the Vietnam or Korean Wars.Footnote:
The Herald July 14 1916 (p3)(Carlton secretary J. E. Clinton.)
Mr. J. Clinton has received an interesting letter from F. Doyle, now somewhere in France.
He writes - 'For nerve thrillers you want to see air duels. Every day fights occur. Yesterday four Germans were brought down, and two officers killed. Today, they were buried with full miltary honors, the coffins (2) were placed side by side, in one grave, so you can see we treat the German dead with the greatest respect.
When the big guns fire, the earth, for miles around, shakes like an earthquake, and the row is worse than a million football barrackers. We have a kick of the football here in our spare time, as there are a lot of Australian footballers here. I often wonder how 'old' Carlton is going, and hope to be back in my old position next season.'
Was F. Doyle a Carlton footballer? Perhaps recruited, but hadn't played a senior game? Did he return from the War?
There was a VFL steward F. Boyle who was in France July 1916.
The Argus of 21 July, 1945 reported the following from Bougainville;
"A Japanese machine gun was firing from the flank on a forward company near the Mivo River. The enemy had been attacking for hours. The gun was visible only to Lieutenant Bob Dickinson, of Ashted Rd. Box Hill, Melbourne. He called to Pte. Charlie McKin, of Oakover Rd. Preston, Melbourne; "Can you get him?" McKin, who formerly played football for the Carlton team, replied, "Who do think I am, Harry Vallence?" (Carlton goalsneak).
McKin aimed his grenade discharger between two trees 40 yards away indicated by Dickinson. The first grenade wrecked the gun and killed the crew."
Charlie McKin is not listed above, but if anyone has any further information on this player, please contact the Blueseum.
The Border Morning Mail (Albury) Thursday August 05 1943, talking about four Army football teams playing next Sunday at Corowa and Albury.
2/AASC v Hume 18, one of the Hume players is Burnes from Carlton Seconds. The other two teams mentioned 4th Aust. W/S and 3/BOD (Albury) BOD's coach is Jim Crowe