Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good silver-plated 1827 pattern light infantry presentation sword for Alfred Lyon, Captain Commandant 25th. Cheshire Rifle Volunteers, the slightly curved 82 cm blade by J. & W. Wood of Manchester, finely etched with strung bugle etc. within floral sprays and within an ornate central panel the presentation inscription ‘Presented to Alfred Lyon Esqr. Captain Commandant as a mark of esteem and respect by the non-commissioned officers privates and band of the XXVth. Cheshire Rifle Volunteers, Jany. 6th. 1862’, regulation steel guard with strung bugle, back-strap and stepped pommel all silver-plated, fish-skin covered grip bound with silver wire, complete with its silver-plated steel scabbard with two hanging rings, two minor edge nicks to blade otherwise in good condition overall £400-500

The sword is accompanied by a manuscript diary titled ‘Diary of The 25th. Cheshire Rifle Volunteers’ which appears to be in Captain Lyon’s hand. The diary gives a remarkable insight into the raising and subsequent administration of the Corps, opening with a meeting held in the National School in Tymperley in December 1859, where the minutes record a pledge was made to raise the Tymperley Company moved by Alfred Lyon Esq. and at this point 17 young men volunteered to join. The diary is interspersed with news cuttings relating to the Corps. The diary itself recording prize shooting meetings, drills, ball practice, prizes awarded and various other events, dinners and the like, the last entry in the diary being that for Saturday 24th. September, 1864 which recorded the Corps. prize meeting.

There are also copies of letters pasted in recording various disputes Captain Lyon seems to have had with some of his brother officers, some being quite vitriolic, a Captain Nield at one point accusing him of conduct unbecoming an Officer & a Gentleman!

Alfred Lyon, appointed Captain Commandant on 2nd. April, 1860 of 25th. Cheshire Rifle Volunteers, he appears to have retired by 1865. The Corps was formed on April 2nd 1860 and was based in Tymperley a village one & a half miles NE of Altringham. The Corps was absorbed into the 12th. Corps based in Altringham as its No. 2 Company in 1866, and this may have had some bearing on Captain Lyon’s departure from the Corps.

He died at Qourn House, Milverton, Warwickshire on 28th November 1882, his estate exceeding £72.000.

The last line of the footnote should read: ‘He died at Ilsington, Devon, on 18 November 1898, his estate valued at £9,320.’