Archibald George Towler was a carpenter born in Canning Town in the east London docks. After emigrating to South Australia he played for the Adelaide club between 1911 and 1914. Published team lists had him appearing under both forename initials, A and G, but it seems he was known as George. He played at both left back and left wing, and made one appearance for the state team as a left back in 1912. Adelaide won three Cambridge Cups between 1912 and 1914.
On 9th September 1914 Towler was at the King of Hanover hotel for a farewell tribute to departing British reservists, and the next day he played in Adelaide’s last match of the 1914 season, a 3-2 win over North Adelaide. The city club played on in 1915 but did not re-form after the war.
Despite his early farewell Towler did not enlist until 9th April 1915. He was 31 and married, living in the inner suburb of Torrensville. With experience in the Royal Engineers Territorials in Britain he was placed in Divisional Signals Company 2 which was posted to Gallipoli. Here he only managed one month of duty, from early September to early October, before poor health ended his military career. Diagnosed with varicose veins he was sent home from Egypt in January 1916 and discharged in April.
When World War II broke out, George Towler’s enthusiasm for the military life seems to have been rekindled. He put his date of birth forwards by four years and turned up at the Wayville Showgrounds recruiting centre in June 1940. He claimed to be 51, but was actually 56. At first all went well, and he was promoted to Provost Sergeant by July. But by November it had all gone wrong: Towler was put on charge for drunkenness and interfering with the duty of a sentry. He was discharged at his own request in January 1941. He died only four years later.