Arthur Towers was born in Korumburra and subsequently moved to Longwarry to work in John Freeman’s sawmill.

He enlisted in the Army on the 15^th. of July 1915 and he celebrated Christmas whilst at sea, on a troop ship, arriving in France on December 29^th.

He was attached to the 6^th. Battalion that had been amongst the first at Gallipoli, so he was joining a very battle-hardened group of soldiers.

It wasn’t long before his Battalion were in action at the first of the Somme battles that began on July 1^st 1916 and it was just 24 days later that Arthur Towers received severe gun shot wounds to the back and face.

He was evacuated to a hospital in England where he recuperated for 11 months, but instead of being sent home when he had recovered, he was sent back to his Battalion in France.

Again he suffered serious injury in August 1918, when he was affected by a German gas shell in a battle around Villers-Bretonneux and again he was hospitalised, but this time the war had ended by the time he had recuperated, and on the 24^th. of January 1919 he boarded a ship to come home.

Any man or woman who is prepared to risk their lives in the service of their country is undoubtedly very brave, and then there are those who come under notice and receive awards for their exceptional bravery beyond what is expected.

On the Longwarry Cenotaph alone there are the names of 5 men who won the Military Medal for bravery, and many more that were mentioned in dispatches for bravery.

Arthur Towers was also recognised for an exceptional act of bravery, but in a very different manner.

He was awarded the Medaille d’Honneur avec Glaives en Bronze, translated it means Bronze Medal of Honor with Swords, by non-other than the President of France.

The citation for giving the award reads “For individuals who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy.”

It was for troops from countries other than France and of the nearly two and a half million troops from British Commonwealth countries who fought, and no more than 700 of the Bronze Medal of Honor with Swords, were awarded.

The presentation ceremony of the medal was made after the war and Arthur had already returned to Longwarry to his job, working at John  Freeman’s mill. Unfortunately he didn’t get  a trip to the ceremony in France, the medal was sent to him by mail in 1921.

The Longwarry sub branch of the RSL will hold its Remembrance Day Ceremony at The Cenotaph in Longwarry Memorial Park at 11:00am on Monday November 11^th.