Orders, Decorations and Medals

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (868 Tpr. J. Lyon, S.A.C.) very fine £80-100

John Lyon was born at 143 Ferry Road, Leith, on 10 April 1877, the younger son of Robert Lyon, a Master Baker. John Lyon enlisted into the South African Constabulary from 27 March 1901, giving as his address, 5 Summerside Place, Leith, and his occupation, as a Journeyman. Serving with 9 Troop of ‘A’ Division, S.A.C., his papers show him to be no more than a ‘fair’ rider and a ‘fair’ shot. On 8 May 1902 when he was sent on a months’ detachment to Durban for remounts, his Officer Commanding wrote a less than endearing memorandum when learning of his absence, stating, ‘Very glad. Wish you would transfer him, this man is a good cook but useless otherwise. He was a pastry cook by trade ...’ On 19 December 1902 he applied for a discharge by purchase ‘for the purpose of proceeding to England in order to help my father in his business’. He was discharged on 31 January 1903. Sold with copied service papers, Birth Certificate, and other research.