Wikipedia:Monthfeature/2004September
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Edgar Towner (19 April 1890 – 18 August 1972) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, awarded for his actions during an attack on Mont Saint-Quentin during World War I. Born in Queensland, Towner enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in 1915. He served in Egypt with the 25th Battalion until his unit was sent to the Western Front. He then transferred to the 2nd Machine Gun Battalion where he was commissioned as a lieutenant. In June 1918, Towner led a machine gun section attack near Morlancourt while under heavy fire, for which he was awarded the Military Cross. In September, he was involved in the Allied counteroffensive that broke the German lines at Mont Saint-Quentin and Péronne. Towner returned to Australia after being discharged in August 1919. He was appointed a director of the Russleigh Pastoral Company and re-enlisted during World War II, when he was promoted to major. He was awarded the Dr Thomson Foundation Gold Medal in 1956 for his geographical work. (Full article...)