 Throughout the night , Towner frequented the front lines and " continued to fight and ... inspire his men " . He provided supporting fire for the 21st Australian Infantry Battalion as they assaulted a heavily fortified crater on Mont St. Quentin 's summit , and repeatedly reconnoitred the German position to reported on troop movements . The next morning his section assisted in repulsing a large German counterattack before Towner was finally evacuated with exhaustion — thirty hours after being wounded . Initially admitted to the 41st Casualty Clearing Station , he was transported by train to the 2nd Red Cross Hospital at Rouen . For his actions during the battle , Towner was awarded the Victoria Cross — the third of six Australians to receive the medal during the fighting around Mont St. Quentin and Péronne . 
