William John George Evans was born at home in Hilmer Street, Kensington on 16th February 1876. He was the only child of the tragically brief marriage of Georgina and Daniel Evans - his mother died just nineteen days after his birth.

George would face other personal tragedies during his childhood but through these challenges would become a self-reliant and determined man - characteristics which would stand him in good stead in later life.

He joined the Scots Guards at the age of 18 years, and saw active service during the Boer War. He fought at the battles of Modder River and Belmont.  

He was selected to join the thousand strong Imperial Representative Corps which journeyed to Australia to represent Queen Victoria at the inaugeration of the country's first Parliament on 1st January 1901.

After leaving the Guards in 1902, he joined Derby Borough Police before starting his twenty seven year career with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children at its Manchester offices in 1910.