Distinguished Conduct Medal : Sergeant L G Towner, 4 ANZAC Battalion, Imperial Camel Brigade

Distinguished Conduct Medal (Geo V). Impressed around edge with recipient's details.

Lionel George Towner was a 23 year old stockman when he travelled to Townsville, Queensland, to enlist in the AIF on 13 September 1915. During initial training he was appointed an acting corporal. Assigned to the 14th Reinforcements for the 2nd Light Horse Regiment Towner embarked for overseas service from Brisbane on 31 January 1916, aboard the troopship 'Wandilla'.

In Egypt, at the beginning of March, he joined the 1st Light Horse Brigade Reserve Regiment. He was briefly taken on strength of 2nd Light Horse Regiment at Romani on 11 June, before transferring to the Light Horse Double Squadron at Tel el Kebir on 6 July, as a temporary sergeant. This unit was made up of recently arrived reinforcements to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Light Horse Brigades who were sent to defend the Suez Canal on foot. When the double squadron was disbanded in November 1916 Towner, like many of its members, transferred to the newly raised 4th Australian Camel Regiment.

In February 1917 Towner was posted as a troop sergeant to 17th Company, 4th (Anzac) Battalion, 1st Imperial Camel Brigade. Between May and September he served as a Gas Sergeant with the 17th Field Company, then rejoined the 4th (Anzac) Battalion. Towner was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions on 8 November at Ras-el-Nagb during the battle of Khuweilfe. The citation for the award reads: 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He carried a wounded man 400 yards out of action under fire, and later went out and rescued several wounded men who were lying out in the open in front of our line. His gallantry and fearlessness were of the highest order.'.

On 4 December 1917, during the advance to Jerusalem, Towner received a gunshot wound to his left thigh and was evacuated to Egypt for treatment. He rejoined his unit at the end of February 1918. When the Camel Corps was disbanded in June Towner was assigned to light horse details in Egypt. He was posted to 14th Light Horse Regiment on 12 September in time to take part in the regiment's only major operation, the great offensive launched by the battle of Megiddo on 19 September 1918. In ensuing days the Turkish front collapsed and as the Turks retreated into Syria they were harried by mounted troops, supported by aircraft. In ten days the regiment advanced over 650 kilometres. It entered Damascus on 1 October 1918.

On 27 November Towner was appointed acting regimental sergeant major of the regiment, a position he held until his return to Australia in February 1919.