Lieutenant Edgar Thomas Towner

Lieutenant Edgar Thomas Towner

2nd Machine Gun Battalion

19 April 1890 at Glencoe Station near Blackall, Queensland

1 September 1918

Mont St Quentin, Peronne, France

During an engagement enemy resistance was such that the whole advance was halted. During the early stages Towner had located and captured, single-handed, an enemy machine gun. When the Germans were observed massing a stronger force for a counter-attack, Towner and his men got forward with two Vickers guns and the captured gun and produced such effective fire that the Germans suffered heavy losses. Later, by the skilful tactical placement of his guns, he cut off and captured twenty-five Germans. When the advance resumed Towner, despite heavy fire, would reconnoitre the best locations from which his guns could fire on the groups of enemy. When short of ammunition he secured an enemy machine gun which, in full view of the Germans, he mounted and fired so effectively that the enemy retired, thus enabling the Australians to advance. At the critical time when the soldiers of the 21st Battalion attacked the heavily fortified crater on the summit objective, Towner, although wounded, provided enfilade fire. The following night Towner was in command of a small-detached post. He personally reconnoitred the enemy movements, but was evacuated exhausted thirty hours after being wounded.

27 August 1972

Longreach Town Cemetery, Queensland

Privately held