Although born in Lancashire, Carlyle Atkinson lived in New Zealand for a while as a youngster, returning to England at the turn of the 20th century. A fine breaststroke swimmer, he won his 200 metres heat in both 1912 Olympic trials, at Tooting and Southport. After the Stockholm Games he returned to New Zealand and lived in Christchurch. A former telegraph lineman, Atkinson joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in 1916, serving as a lance-corporal in the wireless troop of the New Zealand Engineers. He saw service in Suez, before a period of hospitalisation prior to his discharge on health grounds in 1917. He remained in New Zealand until his death in 1968, and worked as an insurance salesman.
Great Britain