Charles Harry Lyon | |
|---|---|
 C. H. Lyon pictured here in India in 1908. | |
| Born | (1878-03-18)18 March 1878 Rocester,Staffordshire, England |
| Died | 3 December 1959(1959-12-03) (aged 81) Ightfield,Shropshire, England |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Service years | 1900–1933 |
| Rank | Brigadier-General |
| Unit | North Staffordshire Regiment |
| Conflicts | Second Boer War World War I |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in dispatches |
| Other work | Land Tax Commissioner |
Brigadier-GeneralCharles Harry Lyon,CB CMG DSO (18 March 1878 – 3 December 1959) was an English soldier who also playedfirst-class cricket forDerbyshire in 1902.
Lyon was born at The Lodge,Rocester,Staffordshire, the eldest son of Charles William Lyon and his wife Florence. His father was a cotton manufacturer who ran a mill at Rocester and was aJustice of the Peace.[1]
Lyon was commissioned as asecond lieutenant into the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, theNorth Staffordshire Regiment in February 1900,[2] but two months later, in April of the same year, transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the regiment.[3] The 2nd Battalion was aregular battalion and was at the time on active service inSouth Africa during theSecond Boer War, where Lyon joined the battalion and served with it throughout the war, beingmentioned in dispatches in 1901.[4] He was promoted tolieutenant on 19 January 1901, while in South Africa. After peace was declared in May 1902, Lyon leftCape Town on board the SSBavarian and arrived in the United Kingdom the following month.[5] He remained with the 2nd Battalion when it was posted to India in 1903 where he becameadjutant[6] and was promoted tocaptain.[7]
In 1912 Lyon was seconded as a student to theStaff College, Camberley[8] Upon leaving the Staff College, Lyon was posted to the 1st Battalion, North Staffords which was then serving inIreland; and he was still with it at the outbreak of theFirst World War in mid-1914. The battalion mobilised in August 1914 and went to France in September,[9] but Lyon only remained with it for another month, until October 1914, when he was attached to thegeneral staff as a staff captain.[10] This was the first of many staff posts that he held until the end of his career, and he never returned to regimental duty. In March 1915 he moved to become a deputy assistant quartermaster general,[11] and by the end of the war held the substantive rank ofmajor, thebrevet rank oflieutenant colonel and the temporary rank ofbrigadier-general.[12] He was awarded theDistinguished Service Order (DSO) in theNew Year's Honours List for 1916,[13] appointed a Companion of theOrder of St Michael and St George (CMG) in January 1918,[14] and made a Companion of theOrder of the Bath;[12] as well as two Belgian decorations, being made anOfficier de l'Ordre de la Couronne[15] and receiving theCroix de guerre.[16]
Post-war, Lyon served as Assistant Director of Quartering at theWar Office.[17] He finished his Army career as Assistant Quarter Master General,[18] retiring on half pay in March 1927 with the honorary rank of Brigadier-General.[19]
Between his return from South Africa and his departure for India Lyon played two first-class cricket matches for Derbyshire in the1902 season. The first was in a match againstWorcestershire, which resulted in a draw. Less than a week later, Lyon made his only other first-class appearance, againstNottinghamshire. He was a right-handed batsman and made six runs in his two matches. He bowled two overs without taking a wicket.[20]
After the First World War, he played for theFree Foresters Cricket Club.
Lyon married Gwenlliam Mary Campbell, a member of theMinton pottery family. The couple had one daughter, Frances Mary Lyon. After his retirement from the Army Lyon settled inIghtfield,Shropshire, and became a Land Tax Commissioner for the county.[21] He died at Ightfield in 1959, leaving anendowment, the Charles Harry Lyon Endowment, managed by the charity Ightfield with Calverhall Village Hall and Playing Field, to manage the land and buildings held by the committee for the villagers, clubs and wider community of Ightfield.[22]