 On the night of 10 / 11 June 1918 , Towner was in command of a machine gun section during an attack to the south of Morlancourt . One of the first to reach the objective , he deployed his section and got its guns into action " very quickly " . By using captured German machine guns he was able to increase his section 's fire and provide support to the company on his right as it advanced , seized , and consolidated its position . During the morning of 11 June , one of the posts held by the Australian infantry was blown in by German artillery ; braving machine gun and sniper fire , Towner went out in daylight to help reorganise the post . Cited for his " cheerful and untiring attitude " and for " set [ ing ] a conspicuous example " , Towner was awarded the Military Cross for his actions . The announcement of the award and accompanying citation was published in a supplement to the London Gazette on 24 September 1918 . 
