 Born in Queensland to a farming family , Towner enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in 1915 . Posted to the transport section of the 25th Battalion , he served in Egypt until his unit was sent to the Western Front . He then transferred to the 2nd Machine Gun Battalion where he was commissioned as a lieutenant and twice mentioned in despatches for his leadership . During June 1918 , Towner led a machine gun section in attack near Morlancourt and assisted the infantry in reaching its objectives under heavy fire , for which he was awarded the Military Cross . In September , again commanding a machine gun section , he was involved in the Allied counteroffensive that broke the German lines at Mont St. Quentin and Péronne . Fighting for thirty hours after being wounded , his " conspicuous bravery , initiative and devotion to duty " earned him the Victoria Cross , which was presented by King George V in April 1919 . 
