Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Patrick & Cecilia LYONS

Husband of Evelyn M LYONS of "Bromley" Arthur Street, Randwick, NSW

Military Medal

'During the attack on Hill 60, Gallipoli, he showed great coolness and presence of mind when under fire, attention being drawn to this fact by officers outside the Battalion. At Quinn's Post as Sergeant in charge of bombers, he proved very efficient and intrepid. His work in France has also been excellent.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 62
Date: 19 April 1917
 

Meritorious Service Medal

Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 103
Date: 29 June 1917
 

Military Cross

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in an attack. Despite a heavy barrage, darkness, and mud, he got his men to their allotted positions on the jumping off tape with very few casualties. He led forward the first wave, and when all his platoon had become casualties collected spare men and consolidated a gap in the line. He captured fourteen prisoners and three machine guns.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 137
Date: 30 August 1918

THRICE-HONOURED HERO KILLED.
 
Lieut. J. M. Lyons, of Kensington and Randwick, who for the past seven months has been reported missing, has now been reported killed in action in France on October 9. 1917.

Lieutenant Lyons was vice-president of the Kensington branch of the Hibernian Society at the time of his enlistment at the outbreak of the war. 

Lieut. Lyons enlisted as a private at the outbreak of the war, and went with the First Australian Military and Naval Expeditionary Force to New Guinea. On his discharge from that force he again enlisted, and on May 12, 1915, left with the 17th Battalion for Egypt and Gallipoli, where he remained till the evacuation, having gained his sergeant's stripes. Later in France he was twice wounded, gained the Military Modal, Meritorious Service Medal, his commission on the field, and the Military Cross. At the time of his death Lieut. Lyons was 30 years of age.

John Maher LYONS was born on 2nd August 1887 at Emmaville. He was first employed by the NSW Tramways as a casual conductor in Sydney from December 1911. The position was made permanent in August 1912. In 1913 he was fined 10/- (ten shillings) for driving a tram without authority. He enlisted at Sydney on 16th August 1914, in the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force. The AN&MEF travelled into the Pacific region north of Australia early in the war to secure German assets and colonies there. Lyons left Australia on HMAT  ‘Berrima’ on 19th August 1914. The task was completed by early 1915, the Force was disbanded, and the men were discharged.

Lyons immediately enlisted in the AIF at Liverpool on 2nd February 1915.  He gave his ‘calling’ as ‘Tram Conductor’ and his sister Kathleen Ellis as next of kin. When he married his sister’s name was replaced by ‘Wife, Evelyn Lyons’. By the end of March he had been promoted to Corporal.

He left Australia from Sydney aboard HMAT ‘Themistocles’ on 19th May 1915.  After a few weeks in Egypt he joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on Gallipoli on 16th August. In September he was promoted to Sergeant. With the general evacuation in December he returned to Alexandria via Mudros (on the Greek island of Lemnos) on 9th January 1916. By March he was on his way to join the British Expeditionary Force in France through Alexandria and Marseilles.

In France Lyons was allotted to the 17th Battalion, and specifically to the Battalion’s Bomb Platoon (In modern terms ‘bombs’ are ‘hand grenades’). He is specifically recorded as having taken part in a raid on the enemy’s trenches on night of 25th-26th June 1916. On 26th July he was wounded with shrapnel to his face and this led to his evacuation to England for treatment. He did not return to France until 2nd October 1916.

On 21st October 1916 Lyons was awarded the Military Medal.

After a brief time with the 13th Battalion Lyons returned to the 17th on 24th November 1916.  On New Year’s Day 1917 he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, for which the citation does survive:

‘For general good work and devotion to duty. Has been with the Battalion since its inception. A most efficient Bomber, and did very good work at BOIS GRENIER, particularly in the 5th Brigade raid during 26/27th June. Also at POZIÈRES during the Bombing Fight at MUNSTER ALLEY, where he was wounded while bravely leading his men.’

On 20th January 1917 Lyons became a 2nd Lieutenant.  On 1st March 1917 he was wounded on a second occasion with a bomb wound to his right hand, left forearm and both legs. He was again evacuated to England where at Wandsworth Hospital the wounds were described as being to ‘Hip, Rt. Wrist, Buttock, Legs, Right Shoulder’.  By July he had recovered, fit to return to France, and he re-joined the 17th Battalion on 1st August He had been promoted to Lieutenant the previous day. On 9th October he was posted wounded and missing, but this was formally changed to killed in action six months later in April 1918.

Lyons was immediately (17th October) recommended for and posthumously awarded the Military Cross, and again the citation survives:

‘Conspicuous gallantry and courage, during operations on 9th Octr on PASSCHENDAELE RIDGE. He did splendid work in getting the men on the jumping off tape in the face of heavy enemy barrage and despite darkness, mud and other serious weather obstacles, got the men into their allotted positions with very few casualties. During the tiring wait for zero, he kept walking about freely among the men, encouraging them and seeing that all was correct. He led forward the first wave and when all his platoon had become casualties, he collected spare men from another Brigade and organised them along another flank which had been left exposed. He then collected more men and got them consolidating a gap in the front line. He led about 15 men up the slope against ASSYRIA HOUSE. He captured 14 prisoners and 3 machine guns. It was entirely due to his leadership and coolness that the men got so far forward. He was severely wounded. He holds the Military Medal and Meritorious Service Medal, both gained in this way.’

Sergeant L Rigley reported :

‘Mr Lyons had been in my company, but was not so on October 9th. On that day we made an attack from Zonnebeke for the Gallipoli Ridge. Lieutenant Lyons, and Lieutenant Ham who was my platoon officer were with us. Lieut. Lyons and I were in front of the rest, and I got about 5 yards in front of Mr. Lyons and only about 6 yards from a party of Germans. I was sniping. Mr. Lyons crawled up to me and said he would go round the Ridge to try and bomb the Germans. He went out of my sight, and I heard a bomb explode. I could not see Mr. Lyons at this time, but he could only have been ten yards away. I had to retire, and we saw no more of Mr. Lyons, and I feel sure he must have been killed or taken prisoner. He was a very determined man, and would not easily have been taken prisoner. Mr Ham got back wounded.’

All of his decorations were eventually presented to his wife, Evelyn Magdalene, and she also received a pension of £3/10/- per fortnight. 

John Maher Lyons’ body was never recovered, and he has no known grave. He is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. 

- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.