 Educated at Harrow and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, he was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1937, then served with the 25th Field Regiment in India until the outbreak of the Second World War.Ordered to North Africa, Tower saw active service against the Italians in 1940 and 1941 and was at the Battle of Bir Hakeim in May 1942.When General Neil Ritchie abandoned the Gazala Line, the garrison at Tobruk was left isolated, and Tower’s force fought until their ammunition was exhausted, at which point they surrendered.