Philip Tower

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Major-General Philip Thomas Tower, CB, DSO, MBE (1 March 1917 – 8 December 2006) was a British soldier.

The only son of Vice Admiral Sir Thomas Tower was born in Rhu, Dunbartonshire. Educated in Harrow College and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, he was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1937. Tower served with the 25th Field Regiment, in India until the outbreak of the Second World War.

Ordered to North Africa, he fought against the Italians in 1940 and 1941 and served at the Battle of Bir Hacheim 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, when they surrendered for what he was appointed to the Distinguished Service Order. Tower was interred in a prisoner-of-war camp in Italy until the Italians surrendered in September 1943. He then escaped and crossed through the German lines reaching safety in one month later. He was appointed Brigade Major of the 1st Airborne Division in April 1944. At Arnhem, he parachuted and was safely evacuated. Tower accompanied 1st Air Landing Regiment in the relief of Norway in Spring 1945.

In 1967, he was further appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath, having been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire, and was put in command of Royal Military College, Sandhurst. In May of the same year, he became General Officer Commanding Middle East Land Forces. Retired from the army in 1972, he was Administrator of Blickling Hall in Norfolk from 1973 to 1982. Between 1975 and 1978, he was County commissioner for the Norfolk St John Ambulance Brigade.

Tower was married to Elizabeth Sneyd-Kynnersley; they were childless