Robert Towers was born at Pannal in 1892, one of ten children born to George and Annie Towers. At the time of the 1911 Census, Robert was an 18-year-old working on the family farm, Howe Hill Farm at Beckwith.
Robert was called up on or about 1st November 1916 and posted to the Army Service Corps (Horse Transport). He was later transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers, joining X Company of the regiment's 17th Battalion.On 24th March 1918, three days after the launch of the German "Michael" offensive, 17th Lancashire Fusiliers were brought by motor lorries to near Bray-sur-Somme from where the battalion marched to Maricourt and took up front line battle positions. The following day, the battalion was in action at Maricourt, and fell back to Bray overnight. On the 26th, the battalion was again in action; after fighting for six hours it was compelled to retire to Morlancourt, later taking up a new defensive position on the River Ancre near Buire.
Robert was killed in action on 26th March 1918; originally buried in Etinehem (Cote 77) French Military Cemetery (trench map reference 62D.L.19.d.2.3.), he was reburied in Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres. The inscription on his headstone, chosen by his parents, reads THY WILL BE DONE.
[Note: trench map coordinates can be located on a modern map using the excellent tmapper resource.]