Alan Granville Towler's Parachute Regiment Journey

Alan Granville Towler, the son of Alfred and Dorothy Eleanor Towler of Slindon Common, Sussex, lived in Barnet, North London, and was educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Barnet. Upon leaving school, he went to work in the Ministry of Transport. He enlisted in the Royal Engineers and later joined the Royal Artillery, where he was initially posted on home duty. Finding this boring, he sought more excitement and volunteered for airborne forces.

Corporal Towler served with the 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment. He undertook parachute training on No. 34 Training Course at RAF Ringway, which ran from 22 to 27 October 1942. After this course, he would have been issued with his GQ parachute wings.

Corporal Towler was killed in action on 28 February 1943 while serving in Tunisia as part of Operation Torch. He was originally buried in Souk-El-Khemis Military Cemetery and was re-interred to Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery on 10 July 1944. Corporal Towler is also commemorated on The Barnet War Memorial and The Queen Elizabeth Grammar School's Roll of Honour.