War Memorial
Albert Towner was born in Leigh, Kent, and lived at Lee in the same county. By 1918 the electoral register recorded him at Killick's Bank, Penshurst, an address that was also home to his father, Mr. A. Towner.
He joined up in October 1914, remarkably at just fifteen years of age, enlisting at Tonbridge. His first service was with the Royal West Kent Regiment, where he carried the number 3468, before he was transferred to the 20th Battalion of the London Regiment, also known as the 1st/20th Battalion or the Blackheath and Woolwich Battalion. There he became Private 6711.
In September he went out to France, and he was at the front for only ten weeks before he was killed in action on 30 October 1916. He was seventeen when he died. His name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Private A. Towner, the eldest son of Mr. A. Towner, was survived by his father, his sisters and his brother. His death was reported in The Courier on 26 January 1917.