Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

FROM BUSH SCHOOLROOM
TO FRENCH BATTLEFIELD
MILITARY HONORS GAINED
BY FORMER SCHOOL TEACHER
War has uncovered rich seams of courage and resourcefulness in the breasts of thousands of peace-loving Australian citizens. It has devoloped in Alfred Towers martial qualities that must have been Iatent all the years he was school teaching in Gippsland townships — qualities that, at the beginning of this century, sent him chasing elusive Boers over the South African veldt, and, later, led him to
Mouquet Farm. Formerly Alfred Towers, D.C.M., M.C., now 2nd lieutenant in the Australian Imperial Forces, and veteran of two wars, spent his time amid placid surroundings initiating rural child
hood into the mysteries of the three R's. Recently he has lived In an environment of death and desolation, where one looks at his neighbor In surprise to see him alive after a part ing of a few minutes, and where aeroplanes — that would have caused nine
days of wonder in the townships where he taught school — fly overhead in their hundreds unheeded.
LEISURE HOURS ON HORSEBACK
Born in 1881 Lieutenant Towers is the second son of Mr A. W. Towers, B.A., and Mrs Towers, well known in South Melbourne and Kensington. As a young man he joined the Victorian Education Department, and, for several year's, was a teacher at half-time
country schools. Among other centres at which he was stationed were Neerim, Nyora, Beulah, Warracknabeal, and Mansfield. Most of his hours of recreation in those days he spent on horseback. His pastime stood him in good stead later on when he became a soldier.
As a member of the Victorian Bushmen's Contingent, he went to
South Africa, and served in the pay master's office, as a despatch bearer from Beira, Portuguese East Africa, to headquarters, and subsequently with mounted troops, which pursued De Wet. He was a staff-sergeant-major when peace was declared.
After his return to Australia, Lieutenant Towers joined the West  Australian Education Department, and was stationed, among other places, at Hannans, and Marble Arch. When the war with Germany broke out he joined the instructional drill staff at Blackboy camp. Subsequently he enlisted in the 16th Battalion, "4th Infantry Brigade, and sailed for Egypt early last year.
Last July he left for France, where, in the following month, he was  made a sergeant. His bravery at Albert, in that month, came under special notice. In October, for courage at Mouquet Farm, Sergeant Towers was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and was congratulated by Major-General Sir H. V. Cox, commander of the 4th Australian Division. In addition, he was three times mentioned in despatches. Subsequently he was given a commission and awarded the Military Cross.
Lieut. Towers was sent to England in January of this year, and in  March was appointed officer commanding the furlough ofllce at Perham Downs.
BROTHERS IN FORCES
Lieut. Towers Is one of five children. Frederick, his eldest brother, enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in August, 1914, and served in Egypt. He was discharged in 1915. Henry, another brother, volunteered twice, but was rejected because of defective vision. His youngest brother, George, joined the 8th Light Horse,
and served in Galllpoli. Later, as a sergeant, he fought against the Senussi Arabs and Turks. He was in valided home after having been
thrown from his horse, and returning to duty last December, sailed with reinforcements for his old regiment His brother-in-law, Pte. J. J. Lyons, is at present on the Somme.

The Herald Saturday 19 May 1917 page 4