Poppy In memoriam Poppy

Private Thomas Berry Lyons

 

 

 

Thomas Berry Lyons was born on 9 March 1896 at 4 Coolbeg Street, Belfast, the seventh of twelve children of bricklayer Thomas Lyons and his wife Elizabeth Jane (nee Smith). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living in Donegall Avenue, Belfast, with his parents and his five surviving siblings, and working as an apprentice linen lapper.

Lyons enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 11 November 1915 (No.1846). He trained at the regiment's Antrim reserve camp before embarking for France around July 1916. There he was posted to B or C Squadron of the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment.

In August-September 1917 the 2nd NIH Regiment was disbanded and its men were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Lyons, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. Lyons was issued regimental number 41325 and posted to C Company.

Lyons was wounded during the Battle of Cambrai in November or December 1917. Having recovered from his wound he rejoined his unit. He was killed in action between 21 and 28 March 1918 during the retreat from St Quentin in the German ‘Kaiserschlacht’ offensive, aged 22. Having no known grave, he is commemorated at Pozieres Memorial, panel 77. It is possible that his body is one of two unidentified North Irish Horsemen who lie in the Grand Seraucourt British Cemetery.

 

 


Memorial images Copyright © Phillip Tardif with all rights reserved as set out in this Use of Material policy. Newspaper image from the Belfast Evening Telegraph kindly provided by Nigel Henderson, Researcher at History Hub Ulster.