John Lyons (VC)

John Lyons
Depiction of the Siege of Sebastopol
Born	c. 1824 Carlow, County Carlow
Died	20 April 1867 (aged 42–43) Naas, County Kildare
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Army
Rank	Corporal
Unit	19th Regiment of Foot
Battles / wars	Crimean War Indian Mutiny
Awards	Victoria Cross

John Lyons VC (c. 1824 – 20 April 1867) was born in County Carlow, Ireland and was an Irish 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.

Career

He was approximately 32 years old, and a private in the 19th Regiment of Foot (later The Yorkshire Regiment - Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own), British Army, during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 10 June 1855 at Sebastopol, in the Crimean Peninsula, Private Lyons picked up a live shell which had fallen among the guard of the trenches, and threw it over the parapet, thus saving many lives.

Later life

He later served in the Indian Mutiny and achieved the rank of Corporal. He died in Naas, County Kildare on 20 April 1867.

Awards

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Green Howards Museum (Richmond, Yorkshire, England).

References

Listed in order of publication year

• The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
• Clarke, Brian D. H. (1986). "A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men". The Irish Sword. XVI (64): 185–287.
• Ireland's VCs ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (Dept of Economic Development, 1995)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (Co. Kildare, Ireland).
• Northern Echo