Ion Tower

Who is Ion Tower?

Ion Beauchamp Butler Tower, DSC was a British naval officer.

Tower was the third son of Royal Navy Commander Francis Fitzpatrick Tower and his wife Laura, daughter of Thomas Butler. He was educated at Harrow School and entered the Royal Navy through training on HMS Britannia.

He fought in World War I. Beside receiving the British DSC, he also received the Russian Order of St Stanislas, 3rd class with swords. He was awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal for his part, as Lieutenant-Commander aboard HMS Carlisle in the rescue of survivors of the sinking of the Hong Moh in March 1921. He was ultimately promoted Rear Admiral.

He married in 1923 Sophia Maud, daughter of Robert Donner of Bowden, Lacock, Wiltshire and had two children: one son, John Christopher, who was killed by enemy action in 1944 while serving as Supply Assistant in the Royal Navy, and a daughter Lavinia.

Tower, still serving in the navy, was killed in an air raid in London during the Second World War, in October 1940, aged 51, and buried at Kensal Green Cemetery.