▁Beck with ▁Tow se , ▁ ▁( 2 3 ▁April ▁ 1 8 6 4 ▁– ▁ 2 1 ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 8 ) ▁ ▁was ▁an ▁English ▁British ▁Army ▁officer ▁and ▁campaign er ▁for ▁the ▁blind . ▁He ▁was ▁a ▁recip ient ▁of ▁the ▁Victoria ▁Cross , ▁the ▁highest ▁and ▁most ▁pr estig ious ▁award ▁for ▁gall antry ▁in ▁the ▁face ▁of ▁the ▁enemy ▁that ▁can ▁be ▁awarded ▁to ▁British ▁and ▁Commonwealth ▁forces . ▁ ▁Military ▁career ▁Tow se ▁was ▁commission ed ▁a ▁lieutenant ▁in ▁The ▁Gordon ▁High land ers ▁on ▁ 1 6 ▁December ▁ 1 8 8 5 . ▁He ▁distinguished ▁himself ▁with ▁the ▁Ch it ral ▁Ex ped ition ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 5 , ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁captain ▁on ▁ 2 0 ▁May ▁ 1 8 9 6 , ▁and ▁served ▁in ▁the ▁T ira h ▁Camp aign ▁on ▁the ▁North - West ▁Front ier ▁of ▁India ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 8 . ▁ ▁After ▁the ▁out break ▁of ▁the ▁Second ▁Bo er ▁War ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 8 9 9 , ▁his ▁batt alion ▁was ▁sent ▁to ▁South ▁Africa . ▁They ▁were ▁part ▁of ▁large ▁force ▁sent ▁to ▁rel ieve ▁the ▁Sie ge ▁of ▁Kim ber ley , ▁and ▁took ▁part ▁in ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Mag ers f onte in ▁on ▁ 1 0 - 1 1 ▁December ▁ 1 8 9 9 , ▁in ▁which ▁the ▁def ending ▁Bo er ▁force ▁defeated ▁the ▁adv ancing ▁British ▁forces ▁amongst ▁heavy ▁cas ual ties