Three: Second Lieutenant Claude Edward Lyon, Royal Field Artillery, killed in action, 27 May 1916

1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.); Memorial Plaque (Claude Edward Lyon) nearly extremely fine (4) £340-380

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of medals awarded to those having the surname 'Lyon'.

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Claude Edward Lyon was born in Runcorn, Cheshire, on 23 February 1881. An Engineering Draughtsman by occupation, he joined 5th Lancashire Volunteer Artillery, based at Preston, in April 1898, and transferred to the 7th Lancashire Volunteer Artillery, based at Manchester, three years later. He resigned in October 1903 when his attendance was disrupted by his work commitments.

Claude Lyon was gazetted a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant on 15 March 1915. He was posted to ‘B’ Battery, 165th Brigade, R.F.A., which was one of three brigades serving with the 31st “Pals” Division, drawn from Durham, Sheffield, Barnsley, Bradford, Leeds, East Lancashire and Hull. He served with them in Egypt from 29 December 1915, before moving to the Western Front in 1916.

On 27 May 1916 his battery was in position on the Hebuterme-Coluscamps Plain, in front of Soilly and Courcelles, bombarding the defences of Serre some 4,000 yards to the East. At 15.30 that day, it came under counter-battery fire and 2nd Lieutenant Lyon was killed instantly by a fragment from the second shell which fell between him and the dugout that he was running towards. The German artillery went on to decimate his division at Serre on the morning of 1 July 1916 - the first day of the battle of the Somme.

Lieutenant Claude Edward Lyon was buried in Bertrancourt Military Cemetery. He was the husband of Mrs Nellie Lyon, of Wellington, Shropshire. With copied research, certificates and related modern photographs.