 With the Second World War looming , Towner enlisted in the Citizens Military Force on 8 August 1939 and was appointed a captain to the 26th Battalion . After a period as a company commander he was promoted to temporary major and second @-@ in @-@ command of the battalion , under fellow Victoria Cross recipient Lieutenant Colonel Harry Murray . However , Towner retired from the army due to ill health on 21 February 1942 , and returned to his property at <unk> . 
