Harry Lockyer Vining was a telegraph messenger in Murwillumbah in 1914. His appointment to the role was listed in the Commonwealth Gazette in March that year. Two months later he helped form Murwillumbah United, one of several short-lived clubs in the region which formed mere weeks before the start of the war.
As well as a player, Vining was joint secretary of the club. His fellow joint secretary was Cyril Ansbacher, a local chemist. Vining himself became a chemist’s assistant by the time he enlisted in 1916, though it is unknown whether he worked for Ansbacher. Ansbacher himself enlisted the following year.
Vining departed Australia in October 1916 and reached France in February. He was shot in the arm a month later. Recovery took a few weeks, soon after returning to his unit he developed trench fever, necessitating evacuation to England. After his recovery, Vining was moved around various training depots. He eventually returned to France in March 1918, but his war soon ended. He was exposed to mustard gas in April which led to evacuation.
Vining returned to Australia in August. He married Dorothy Griffen in 1924 and they had three children. After moving to Sydney where he completed the examinations to become a chemist in 1926, he soon took over the pharmacy in Hillston, which he ran for seven years. Vining became involved with the Hilson RSL and the rugby league clubs. Dorothy became involved with the tennis club. Both Vining and Dorothy were given farewells by their respective clubs on their departure in 1933.
Vining died in Murwillumbah in 1950.