Graham Thomson Lyall

Graham Thomson Lyall VC (8 March 1892 – 28 November 1941) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

He was 26 years old, and a lieutenant in the 102nd (North British Columbians) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 27 September 1918 north of Cambrai, France, Lieutenant Lyall led his platoon in the capture of a strong-point, together with 13 prisoners, one field-gun and four machine-guns. Later, leading his men against another strong-point he rushed forward alone and captured the position single-handed, taking 45 prisoners and five machine-guns. The completion of his final objective resulted in the capture of 41 prisoners. On 1 October in the neighbourhood of Blecourt, he captured a strongly defended position which yielded 60 prisoners and 17 machine-guns. During both these operations, on attaining his objectives, Lieutenant Lyall tended the wounded under fire.

He died Mersa Matruh, Egypt, on 28 November 1941.

Further information

He later achieved the rank of Colonel. Grave/memorial at Buried at Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, Egypt. 10m E. of Libyan border. Plot XIX. Row B. Grave 2. Headstone.

The medal

Lyall's Victoria Cross is on display at the [http://www.rememuseum.org.uk Corps of Royal Mechanical and Electrical Engineers Museum] of Technology in Arborfield, Berkshire, England.

References

* Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
* The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
* VCs of the First World War - The Final Days 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 2000)

External links

* [http://www.donlowconcrete.com/102/WARPAGES/vc.htm Colonel Graham Thompson Lyall, VC] "(biography)"
* [http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ggegypt.htm Burial location of Graham Lyall] "Egypt"
* [http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bblyall.htm News item] "Graham Lyall's Victoria Cross donated to the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers Museum"
* [http://ontarioplaques.com/Plaque_Niagara70.html Ontario Historic Plaque]
* [http://www.legionmagazine.com/features/victoriacross/06-01.asp Legion Magazine article on Graham Lyall]