James Towers
Encyclopedia
James Towers VC
(9 September 1897 -2 4 January 1977) was an English
recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces.
Towers from Broughton, Preston, Lancashire
, worked on his father's farm before attempting to enlist in July 1915. When it was discovered that he was underage, he was sent home. He tried again in August 1916, originally enlisting in the 5th Dragoon Guards
, but he soon transferred to the 2nd Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).
He was 21 years old, and a private
in the 2nd Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
, British Army
during the First World War
when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 6 October 1918 at Méricourt
, France
, when five runners had failed to deliver an important message, Private Towers, while aware of the fate of those who had already attempted the task, volunteered for the duty. In spite of the heavy fire opened on him as soon as he moved, he went straight through from cover to cover and eventually delivered the message. His determination and disregard of danger was an inspiring example.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(9 September 1897 -2 4 January 1977) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Towers from Broughton, Preston, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, worked on his father's farm before attempting to enlist in July 1915. When it was discovered that he was underage, he was sent home. He tried again in August 1916, originally enlisting in the 5th Dragoon Guards
5th Dragoon Guards
The 5th Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1685. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards in 1922....
, but he soon transferred to the 2nd Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).
He was 21 years old, and a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the 2nd Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
The Cameronians was an infantry regiment of the British Army, the only regiment of rifles amongst the Scottish regiments of infantry...
, British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 6 October 1918 at Méricourt
Méricourt, Pas-de-Calais
Méricourt is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Méricourt is a former coal mining town, nowadays a farming and light industrial town, southeast of Lens, at the junction of the D33, D40 and the D262 roads...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, when five runners had failed to deliver an important message, Private Towers, while aware of the fate of those who had already attempted the task, volunteered for the duty. In spite of the heavy fire opened on him as soon as he moved, he went straight through from cover to cover and eventually delivered the message. His determination and disregard of danger was an inspiring example.
External links
- Burial location of James Towers "Lancashire"
- News Item "James Towers' Victoria Cross sold at auction"