THE VICTORIA CROSS GROUP AWARDED TO PRIVATE JAMES TOWERS, THE CAMERONIANS, HAS BEEN SOLD BY THE LONDON AUCTION HOUSE DIX NOONAN WEBB.
14 April 2021


( select to enlarge )

Medal entitlement of Private James Towers,
2nd Bn, The Cameronians ( Scottish Rifles )

  • Victoria Cross
  • British War Medal ( 1914-20 )
  • Victory Medal ( 1914-19 )
  • King George VI Coronation Medal ( 1937 )
  • Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal ( 1953 )


The Victoria Cross and campaign medals awarded to Private James Towers, 2nd Bn, The Cameronians ( Scottish Rifles ), have been sold at auction by Dix Noonan Webb on Wednesday, 14 April 2021. The estimated sale price was between £140,000 and £180,000. The sale hammer price realised £200,000. The purchaser of the VC group was the Lord Ashcroft VC Collection.

The James Towers VC group had previously been sold by Noble Numistatics of Sydney on 7 April 2005 for a hammer price of £90,000 to an anonymous buyer.

The James Towers VC group had previously been sold by Dix Noonan Webb on 25 March 2015 for a hammer price of £120,000. The identity of the purchaser was not revealed.


[ London Gazette, 6 January 1919 ], Mericourt, France, 6 October 1918, Private James Towers, 2nd Bn, The Cameronians ( Scottish Rifles ).

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Mericourt on 6 October 1918 when under heavy fire, five runners having failed to deliver an important message, Private Towers, well aware of the fate of the runners who had already attempted the task, volunteered for the duty.

In spite of heavy fire opened on him as soon as he moved, he went straight through from cover to cover and eventually delivered the message. His valour, determination, and utter disregard of danger were an inspiring example to all.

James Towers was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 8th May 1919.


James Towers was demobilized in January 1919 and died on the 24th January 1977 at the Preston General Hospital. He was cremated at Preston Crematorium.

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Iain Stewart, 14 April 2021