Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 26670 Albert Lyon

Age: 22
From: Runcorn, Cheshire
Regiment: 4TH KINGS
Died on Sunday 27th October 1918
Commemorated at: Awoingt British Cemetery
Panel Ref: I.G.18

Albert Lyon was born in Runcorn, in the June quarter of 1896, the second son of Joseph Lyon and Margaret (née Webster). His parents, both from Runcorn, married in 1892 and had seven children, one of whom died young. Albert had an older brother Joseph, and younger siblings John (Jack), Frank, Arthur, and Nellie.

He was baptised on 5th July 1896 in All Saints, Runcorn, his parents’ residence given as 2 Mount Pleasant, and his father’s occupation labourer.

In 1901 the family is living at 13 Vine Street, Runcorn. His father is a chemical labourer. They have four sons, Albert is 4. He was educated at the Victoria Road and Balfour Road schools.

The 1911 census finds them still at 13 Vine Street. His father, 39, is a blacksmith’s striker for a chemical manufacturer, his mother is 37, Joseph, 18, is a dock labourer, Albert is 14, an apprentice gas fitter for the gas company, Jack is 12, Frank 10, Arthur 6 and Nellie is 3.

Before enlisting, Albert worked as a gas fitter for the Runcorn Gas Company.

Albert enlisted in May 1915 in Liverpool in the 17th Bn, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment as Private 26670 (he may have just turned 19). He shipped to France, arriving on 29th December 1915, earning him the 1914-15 Star. At some point, it is not known when, Albert was transferred to the 4th Bn, K.L.R. Whether with the 17th or the 4th, he saw action at the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) in 1917, and during the German Spring Offensive in 1918. Albert was wounded during the 100 Days Offensive, the Allied push that would soon bring the war to an end, and died of his wounds on 27th October 1918, at No.59 Casualty Clearing Station. He was 22 years old, based on

He now rests in Awoingt British Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitpah;

“HE GAVE HIS RICHEST GIFT, HIS YOUNG LIFE FOR BRITAIN”

Awoingt British Cemetery was begun in the latter half of October 1918 and used until the middle of December; the village had been captured on 9/10 October. By 28 October, the 38th, 45th and 59th Casualty Clearing Stations were posted in the neighbourhood, and the great majority of the burials were made from those hospitals, but 16 graves in Plot III, Row H, and Plot V, were brought in after the Armistice from the country immediately surrounding the village. Awoingt British Cemetery contains 653 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War, including a special memorial to one casualty whose grave in the cemetery cannot now be found. The cemetery also contains 63 war graves of other nationalities, most of them German.

The notice of Albert’s death appeared in the weekly Runcorn Guardian on 15th November, next to the column headed;

“Peace! Rejoicings in Runcorn”:

“Official notification of the death of their son, Private Albert Lyon, has been received by Mr. and Mrs. J. Lyon, of 6, Vine Street, Runcorn. The sad news was first received by telegram which was later confirmed by an official notification that he had died from wounds at 59 Casualty Clearing Station, France, on October 27. Private Lyon was 23 [sic] years of age and enlisted in the first week of May, 1915 in the Liverpool Pals. He went out to France in December of the same year and has since been fighting on the Western Front. He was home on 14 days’ leave only six weeks ago. As a boy he attended the Victoria Road and Balfour Road Schools and before enlisting was employed as a gasfitter by the Runcorn Gas Co., where he was a great favourite with his fellow workers and the clerical staff and his loss is very much felt. He was associated with the Star of Freedom Lodge of Oddfellows Society and also of the Primitive Methodist Sunday School. His eldest brother Joseph, of the Cheshire Regiment, died of wounds on October 2, 1917, and his youngest brother, John, was discharged on August 9, 1918, after nearly four years’ service, being disabled in the left arm. Several of his cousins are also serving in the army and navy. Much sympathy is felt with the parents in this, their second loss, in twelve months.”

Albert earned his three medals. His parents received his effects, including a War Gratuity £20, and a pension of 20/- a week for their sons.

Younger brother John lied about his age when he enlisted in in the 10th Cheshire Regiment as Private 14804 in September 1914; he was 15 or had just turned 16. He suffered a gunshot wound to the forearm and received a Silver War Badge. John lived until 1980.

Joseph served as Private 14993, 13th Cheshire Regiment. He died of wounds in hospital in London and now rests in Runcorn Cemetery. He was 25.

His father died in 1952, aged 81 and his mother in 1959 at the age of 85.

Albert and his brother are commemorated on the family gravestone in Runcorn Cemetery:

PTE JOSEPH LYON (CHESHIRE REG’T)

THE BELOVED SON OF

JOSEPH AND MARGARET LYON,

WHO DIED AT KING GEORGE HOSPITAL

LONDON, OCT 2 1917, FROM WOUNDS

RECEIVED IN ACTION AT YPRES

AGED 25 YEARS

ALSO PTE ALBERT LYON

KING’S L’POOL REGT.,

BELOVED BROTHER OF THE ABOVE

WHO DIED OCT 27TH 1918 FROM WOUNDS

RECEIVED IN ACTION AND BURIED IN THE

BRITISH CEMETERY, GAURIOR, NEAR CAMBRAI

AGED 22 YEARS

TWO OF BRITAIN’S HEROES

Albert and Joseph are both commemorated on the Runcorn Memorial.

We currently have no further information on Albert Lyon. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Killed On This Day.

(109 Years this day)
Friday 27th October 1916.
Pte 53064 Cyril Joseph Graham
21 years old

(108 Years this day)
Saturday 27th October 1917.
Pte 202839 Henry James Sanderson
19 years old

(107 Years this day)
Sunday 27th October 1918.
Pte 26670 Albert Lyon
22 years old