Charles Harry Lyon CB CMG D (1878 - 1959)

Born 28 Apr 1878 in Rocester, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Gwenllian Mary (Campbell) Lyon — married 1911 in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 3 Dec 1959 at age 81 in Ightfield, Shropshire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Charles was born in 1878. He was the son of Charles Lyon and Florence Peach. He passed away in 1959. Lyon was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, the North Staffordshire Regiment in February 1900,[2] but two months later, in April of the same year, transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the regiment.[3] The 2nd Battalion was a regular battalion and was at the time on active service in South Africa during the Second Boer War, where Lyon joined the battalion and served with it throughout the war, being mentioned in dispatches in 1901.[4] He was promoted to lieutenant on 19 January 1901, while in South Africa. After peace was declared in May 1902, Lyon left Cape Town on board the SS Bavarian and arrived in the United Kingdom the following month.[5] He remained with the 2nd Battalion when it was posted to India in 1903 where he became adjutant[6] and was promoted to captain.[7]

Officers of the 1st Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, photographed in Cambridge, August 1914. Captain Charles Lyon is pictured standing on the far right in the second row. In 1912 Lyon was seconded as a student to the Staff College, Camberley[8] Upon leaving the Staff College, Lyon was posted to the 1st Battalion, North Staffords which was then serving in Ireland; and he was still with it at the outbreak of the First World War in mid-1914. The battalion mobilised in August 1914 and went to France in September,[9] but Lyon only remained with it for another month, until October 1914, when he was attached to the General Staff as a Staff Captain. This was the first of many staff posts that he held until the end of his career, and he never returned to regimental duty. In March 1915 he moved to the staff of the Quartermaster general, and by the end of the war held the substantive rank of major, the brevet rank of lieutenant colonel and the temporary rank of brigadier-general.[10] He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in the New Year's Honours List for 1916,[11] appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in January 1918,[12] and made a Companion of the Order of the Bath;[10] as well as two Belgian decorations, being made an Officier de l'Ordre de la Couronne[13] and receiving the Croix de guerre.[14]

Post-war, Lyon served as Assistant Director of Quartering at the War Office.[15] He finished his Army career as Assistant Quarter Master General,[16] retiring on half pay in 1927 with the honorary rank of Brigadier-General.

Sources

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GMVP-N9X