Sir Ernest Beachcroft Beckwith Towse, VC, KCVO, CBE, (23 April 1864 – 21 June 1948) was an English British Army officer and campaigner for the blind. He was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Quick Facts Sir Ernest Beachcroft Towse, Born ...

Sir Ernest Beachcroft Towse
Towse in the uniform of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms
Born	23 April 1864 Westminster, London
Died	21 June 1948 (aged 84) Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Buried	St Thomas of Canterbury Churchyard, Goring
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1885–1900
Rank	Captain
Unit	The Gordon Highlanders
Battles/wars	Chitral Expedition Tirah Campaign Second Boer War World War I
Awards	Victoria Cross Royal Victorian Order Order of the British Empire Order of St John
Other work	Patron of blind and military charities

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Towse, the son of a solicitor, was born in London, and was educated at Stubbington House School, Gosport, and Wellington College, Berkshire. In 1883 he joined the 3rd battalion Seaforth Highlanders and was promoted lieutenant in December 1885. In 1886 he transferred to the Gordon Highlanders.^[1] He distinguished himself with the Chitral Expedition in 1895, was promoted to captain on 20 May 1896, and served in the Tirah Campaign on the North-West Frontier of India in 1898.^[2]

After the outbreak of the Second Boer War in October 1899, his battalion was sent to South Africa. They were part of large force sent to relieve the Siege of Kimberley, and took part in the Battle of Magersfontein on 10–11 December 1899, in which the defending Boer force defeated the advancing British, causing heavy casualties. Towse was mentioned in the despatch from Lord Methuen describing the battle.^[3]

Towse′s VC action left him blind and he spent much of the rest of his life working with the blind. He served in the First World War as a staff officer working with the wounded in base hospitals in France and Belgium, as well as promoting the welfare of blinded former servicemen.^[1] Towse was chairman of the British and Foreign Blind Association, founded the British Wireless for the Blind Fund in 1928^[8] and was a trustee of The Association for Promoting the General Welfare of the Blind (GWB, now known as CLARITY - Employment for Blind People). He provided GWB a grant of £500, which enabled them to start making soap.^[9]

In 1940 he made his house available as a rehabilitation centre for civilians blinded through air raids.^[1] His sister, Beatrice Julia Beckwith Towse, was a committee member of the Disabled Officers Garden Homes (formerly Ex-Officers Direct Supply Association) organisation; she lived with him after his injury.^[10]

Among other appointments, Towse was a national vice-president of the British Legion from 1927, and Vice Patron of St Dunstans (now Blind Veterans UK) from 1946, holding both posts until his death in 1948.^[1]

Pipe Major George S. McLennan (1884–1929) of the Gordon Highlanders composed the 2/4 march "Captain E.B.B. Towse, V.C." in his honour.^[11]

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Gordon Highlanders Museum, Aberdeen, Scotland.^[12]

Ribbon	Description	Notes
	Victoria Cross (VC)	6 July 1900
	Royal Victorian Order (KCVO)	1927
	Order of the British Empire (CBE)	Civil Division – 1920
	Venerable Order of St John (K.StJ)	1916
	India Medal	3 Clasps Relief of Chitral 1895 Punjab Frontier 1897–98 Tirah 1897–98
	Queen's South Africa Medal	3 Clasps Cape Colony Paardeberg Driefontein
	1914–15 Star
	British War Medal
	World War I Victory Medal	With Mentioned in dispatches Oakleaf
	King Edward VII Coronation Medal	1902
	King George V Coronation Medal	1911
	King George V Silver Jubilee Medal	1935
	King George VI Coronation Medal	1937

Source:^[13][14]