| Lyon | Francis | | Captain | LYON, FRANCIS, Captain, was born 10 July 1867, son of Colonel Francis Lyon, RHA, and the Honourable Mrs Lyon, sister of the 11th Viscount Valentia. He joined the Royal Artillery as Second Lieutenant 23 July 1887; was ADC to the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies, from 21 March 1895 to 7 October 1897; served on the North-West Frontier of India with Malakand Field Force, including Utman Khel Column; also with Buner Field Force; was present at the attack and capture of the Tanga Pass, and received Medal with clasp. He became Captain 18 May 1898. He served in South Africa, 1899-1900, on the Staff; during operations in Natal, including actions at Elandslaagte, Rietfontein and Lombard's Kop; took part in the defence of Ladysmith, including action of 6 January He was mentioned in Despatches (Sir G S White, 2 December 1899 and 23 March 1900 [London Gazette, 8 February 1901]), received the Queen's Medal with three clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 19 April, 1901]: "Francis Lyon, Captain, Royal Artillery. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The Insignia were presented by the King 3 June 1901. He became ADC to Lieutenant General, Natal, 16 September 1899 to 28 March 1900; was specially employed on the Gold Coast 22 August 1900 to 21 January 1901, during the Ashanti operations (Despatches [London Gazette,8 March, 1901]; Medal); became Major, Royal Artillery, 21 October 1903; was employed with the West African Frontier Force, Northern Nigeria, 15 October 1902 to 14 October 1905, in the Kano-Sokoto Campaign (Despatches [London Gazette, 31 July 1902]; Medal with clasp): was appointed Assistant Secretary (Military), GSO, 2nd Grade, Committee of Imperial Defence, 11 July 1906 to 30 September 1910. He was specially employed at the War Office 4 July to 14 August 1911; was Military Attache (GSO), Bucharest, Sofia, Belgrade and Athens, from 15 August 1911 to 14 August 1913. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 30 December 1914. He served in the European War; was GSO, 2nd Grade, from 5 August 1914 to 5 March 1915, and Brigadier General, General Staff, from 14 July 1915. He was five times mentioned in Despatches, and created a CMG and given the rank of Brevet Colonel. In 1910 he married Jane, eldest daughter of Joseph C Berwick, and their children were: Ann; Paul, born in 1915, and Joan, born in 1915.
CB (m), CMG, CVO, DSO, IGS (2) 1895 P-F 1897-98 (Lt RA), Ashantee Medal 1900 (Capt RFA), [QSA (3) Eland DofL Tr], Africa GSM 1902 (1) N-Nigeria 1903 (Capt RFA), 1914 Star (Maj DSO RFA), BWM, Victory Medal with MID (Brig-General), Russia, Order of St Stanislaus, France, Legion d'Honneur, 4th Class, Belgium, Croix de Guerre with palm. Sothebys 1999 est £3,000-5,000.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Artillery |
