Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An unusual Great War O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Wing Commander T. O. Lyons, Royal Air Force, late Royal Artillery and Royal Flying Corps, who invented the “Lyons Searchlight”, a lamp used to illuminate flarepaths at night

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt; 1914-15 Star (Capt., R.F.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt., R.F.C.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (85644 Supt. Clk., R.G.A.); French Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Russian Order of St. Anne, 4th class breast badge, gilt and enamel, the second renamed and the last with severely damaged enamel on obverse left arm and lacking one inter-arm fitment, otherwise generally very fine or better (7) £600-800

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1919.

French Legion of Honour London Gazette 10 October 1918.

Thomas Owen Lyons, who was born circa 1872, the son of a Police Sergeant, and originally a native of Tregaron, Cardigan, Wales, first entered the French theatre of war as a Quarter-Master & Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps in April 1915. He subsequently enjoyed rapid promotion and was serving as Deputy Assistant Director of Aircraft Equipment when awarded an M.B.E. in January 1918, the same year in which he received his Legion of Honour. Elevated to O.B.E. in the rank of Acting Lieutenant-Colonel in January 1919, his additional entitlement to a 4th class Order of St. Anne is confirmed by contemporary sources. He died at Ickenham, Middlesex in February 1926, while still serving as a Wing Commander. Well worthy of further research.