George Bower was born on 3 April 1897 in Wallsend, New South Wales. Before enlistment, he played for the Wallsend Rovers junior team.
He joined up on 18 May 1918 and was attached the the Pay Corps in early 1919 and promoted to corporal thereafter. Upon returning from the war, Bower rejoined the club and played with the successful Wallsend Senior team. In 1923, he represented Newcastle, beating New Zealand and Victoria. George Bower moved to and played for Cessnock in 1925.
He married Ena Rathborne Parsons on 7 March 1935 in Singleton, New South Wales. He died on 15 August 1979 in Cessnock, New South Wales, at the age of 82, and was buried there.