Graham Thomson Lyall

Rushed German posts and captured prisoners and machine guns.

Graham Thomson Lyall was born in Manchester, England, on 8 March 1892, the son of the Reverend Robert Henry Lyall and Agnes Lisette, formerly Wells. He grew up in Lancashire and attended school at Farnworth and Nelson before training in mechanical engineering at Portsmouth. He emigrated to Canada in 1912 and worked in the Niagara region, including for the Canadian Niagara Power Company.

After war began, Lyall served with the Canadian militia guarding the Welland Canal. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915, joining the 81st Battalion. After sailing to Britain in April 1916, he went to France as a reinforcement for the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles. His service included fighting on the Somme. Selected for officer training in 1917, he became a lieutenant and joined the 102nd Battalion.

On 27 September 1918, during the advance through Bourlon Wood near Cambrai, Lyall's platoon helped a leading company held up by a German strongpoint. He outflanked the position and captured thirteen prisoners, a field gun and four machine guns. Later, with his platoon reduced by casualties, he gathered available men and advanced against another position. He rushed forward alone, killed its commander and captured forty-five prisoners and five machine guns. He then secured the final objective and another forty-seven prisoners, protecting the rest of his company.

On 1 October, near Blécourt, Lyall commanded a weakened company that captured a further defended position with eighty prisoners and seventeen machine guns. His leadership across these two days brought three officers and 182 other ranks into captivity, together with twenty-six machine guns and a field gun. He received the Victoria Cross for his courage and command. King George V presented it at Buckingham Palace on 15 March 1919.

After leaving Canadian service, Lyall remained in Britain. He married Elizabeth Frew in April 1919 and settled at Airdrie, Scotland. He managed a brickworks and later became managing director of Aerocrete (Scotland), a construction business. Alongside his civilian work he served in the British Territorial Army, first with the Royal Engineers and subsequently in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.

In April 1939 Lyall became a major commanding the 3rd Anti-Aircraft Division Workshop Company. Mobilised when the Second World War began, he was promoted lieutenant-colonel in May 1940 and went to Egypt. He worked with the ordnance workshops supporting British forces in the Middle East. In October 1941 he became a colonel commanding the 87th Lines of Communication Sub Area, responsible for essential support to the troops fighting in the Western Desert.

Lyall died of heart failure while on active service in Egypt on 28 November 1941, aged 49. He was initially buried in the Western Desert and later reinterred at Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, Egypt, in grave 19. B. 2.

Official Victoria Cross citation The London Gazette, Supplement, 14 December 1918, page 14775:

Lt. Graham Thomson Lyall, 102nd Bn., 2nd Central Ontario R.

For most conspicuous bravery and skilful leading during the operations north of Cambrai.

On September 27th, 1918, whilst leading his platoon against Bourlon Wood, he rendered invaluable support to the leading company, which was held up by a strong point, which he captured, by a flank movement, together with thirteen prisoners, one field gun and four machine guns.

Later, his platoon, now much weakened by casualties, was held up by machine guns at the southern end of Bourlon Wood. Collecting any men available, he led them towards the strong point, and springing forward alone, rushed the position single-handed and killed the officer in charge, subsequently capturing at this point forty-five prisoners and five machine guns. Having made good his final objective, with a further capture of forty-seven prisoners, he consolidated his position and thus protected the remainder of the company.

On October 1st, in the neighbourhood of Blecourt, when in command of a weak company, by skilful dispositions he captured a strongly defended position, which yielded eighty prisoners and seventeen machine guns.

During two days of operations Lt. Lyall captured in all 3 officers, 182 other ranks, 26 machine guns and one field gun, exclusive of heavy casualties inflicted. He showed throughout the utmost valour and high powers of command.