Three: Flight Sub-Lieutenant G. Towers, Royal Naval Air Service, who died as a result of a...

Three: Flight Sub-Lieutenant G. Towers, Royal Naval Air Service, who died as a result of a flying accident, when he collided his Short 184 seaplane into a barge on landing at R.N.A.S. Calshot, 13 October 1917 1914-15 Star (Eng. S. Lt. G. Towers. R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Flt. S. Lt. G. Towers. R.N.A.S.); Memorial Plaque (Grantham Towers) last in card envelope of issue, medals mounted on card for display, generally good very fine or better (4) £700-£900 --- Grantham Towers was born in Hanover Square, London in January 1891. He was the son Robert Mason Towers, a retired member of the Indian Civil Service who was born in Ireland. Towers resided with his parents in Folkestone, prior to them moving to Sturts Cottage, Graffham, Petworth Sussex. He then later resided at The Old Vicarage, Stapleford, Cambridgeshire. Initially commissioned into the Royal Naval Reserve, Towers transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service in November 1916. Training as a pilot, his postings included to Crystal Palace, Chingford and Calshot. It whilst operating as a seaplane pilot, flying a Short 184 reconnaissance torpedo aircraft, over the Channel from R.N.A.S. Calshot that Towers was involved in a crash that ultimately led to his death. The following was given in The Hampshire Telegraph, 9 November 1917: ‘An inquest was held yesterday afternoon into the circumstances attending the death of Flight Sub-Lieut. James Grantham Towers, R.N.A.S., who died on Wednesday. Deceased was admitted to hospital on October 13th, suffering from a compound fracture of the left femur, partial dislocation of the right hip joint, as the result of a fall from a seaplane. It was stated that he collided with a barge on landing. The evidence of Naval medical witnesses showed that although the fractures and other injuries progressed satisfactorily, the patient maintained a high temperature, and on a specimen of his blood being analysed it was found to contain the para-typhoid germ. He was immediately treated for such, but the patient got weaker and died on Wednesday, as stated. Death, in the opinion of the witnesses, was directly due to typhoid, and a verdict of death from natural causes was returned.’ Flight Sub-Lieutenant Towers death was classified as accidentally killed whilst flying on non-operational duties, and he died at Haslar, 7 November 1917, where he was also buried. Sold with 2 portrait photographs of recipient in uniform, and Admiralty enclosure for campaign awards addressed to recipient’s mother.