Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas

An unusual Great War C.B. and Victorian campaign group of 12 awarded to Admiral Herbert Lyon, Royal Navy, who served with the Naval Brigades landed in Perak and in Zululand where he commanded a Gatling gun at Ginghilovo

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Perak (H. Lyon, Midsn. H.M.S. “Charybdis”); South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Sub: Lieut: H. Lyon. R.N. H.M.S. “Boadicea.”); 1914-15 Star (Capt. H. Lyon. R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Commre. 2 Cl.H. Lyon. R.N.R.); Ottoman Empire, Nichan-Imtiaz Medal, gold (Capt. H. Lyon R.N. 3rd Sept. 07.); Ottoman Empire, Nichan-Imtiaz Medal, silver (Capt. H. Lyon R.N. 3rd Sept. 07.); Greece, Kingdom, Order of the Redeemer, 3rd Class neck badge, gold and enamels, in its Lemaitre, Paris case of issue with neck ribbon, small enamel chip to reverse central cross; Spain, Kingdom, Order of Naval Merit, 3rd Class breast star, white model (special service), silver-gilt and enamels, in its Cejalvo, Madrid case of issue; Spain, Kingdom, Order of Military Merit, white model (special service), silver-gilt and enamels, in its José Mayor, Madrid case of issue; Spain, Kingdom, Order of Isabella the Catholic, 3rd Class neck badge, silver-gilt, gold and enamels, the first two campaign medals with edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine, otherwise generally nearly extremely fine (12) £4,000-£5,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

View
Collection

Alan Hall Collection, June 2000.

Herbert Lyon was born on 28 December 1856, at Woodley, Pilkington, Lancashire. He was the son of A. W. Lyon J.P., of Abbots Clownholme, Rochester, Stafford, and was educated at Windlesham House, Brighton, and the Reverend H. Burney's Royal Academy, Gosport. He entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet aboard the Training Ship Britannia, which he joined on 15 January 1870, at the age of 13. On passing out in December 1871 he gained six months’ sea time, and joined his first ship H.M.S. Sultan in December 1871, being promoted to Midshipman on 20 June 1872.

He was appointed to Charybdis in October 1873 for service with the East Indies Squadron, and served aboard this ship for nearly three years, seeing action on shore with the Naval Brigade during the Lingi and Lukat River expeditions, the Straits of Malacca, and at Perak. For these services he received the Indian General Service medal with clasp 'Perak'. On returning to England, Lyon joined Topaz in June 1878, having been promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 20 June 1876. Next appointed to Excellent in September 1877 for College and examination, on passing out he was awarded a 2nd Class Certificate in Seamanship and 3rd Class Certificates in Gunnery and Navigation.

In April 1878 Lyon joined Boadicea for service on the Cape of Good Hope Station and West Coast of Africa. Whilst in this ship he was landed in Zululand with the Naval Brigade, and served on shore from 19 March to 6 August, 1879. He was mentioned in Despatches by Commodore Sir Frederick Richards and recommended for promotion, having been in all of the operations leading to the relief of Ekowe and commanded a Gatling gun at Ginghilovo. For his services he was promoted to Acting Lieutenant on 21 January 1880 and appointed to Flora; he was later confirmed in this rank with seniority of 7 February 1880.

In September 1880 he joined President for study and examination; on qualifying, he joined Garnet in July 1891. As a Lieutenant he served aboard Rifleman from November 1881; Himalaya from May 1883; Hercules from September 1884; Tourmaline from August 1886; Duke of Wellington from November 1889; and Impregnable from March 1890. He was promoted to Commander on 30 June 1894, and joined Vivid in September 1895. Lyon then served aboard Pelican from January 1898; Curacoa from February 1899; and Cleopatra from August 1900. On promotion to Captain on 31 December 1900, he took command of Sirius in July 1901, followed by: Retribution in June 1902; Vivid in October 1904; Trafalgar in April 1905; Cornwall in March 1906; Formidable in January 1907; and finally Tamar in August 1908, as Commodore 2nd Class and Naval Officer in Charge Hong Kong. Whilst holding this post he was appointed an A.D.C. to King Edward VII on 5 November 1908. In 1907, during the King’s visit to Spain, Malta and cruise in the Mediterranean, Lyon was awarded various Spanish and Turkish decorations, ‘private’ permission to wear being confirmed in most cases in his record of service, and all confirmed in Who’s Who.

On returning to England, Lyon was promoted to Rear-Admiral on 14 April 1910, and at his own request placed on the Retired List on 24 January 1913. On the outbreak of World War I he offered his services to the Admiralty in any capacity available. He was appointed a Captain R.N.R. on 16 November 1914, and given Command of the Yacht Safar El Bahr on 23 August 1915, for service in the Eastern Mediterranean. On 24 October 1915, he was promoted to Vice-Admiral, and in October 1916 he was appointed to Egmont for charge of all armed patrol vessels at Malta, as Commodore 2nd Class R.N.R, remaining in this post until the end of the war. He was brought to their Lordships favourable notice by Rear-Admiral Ballard for valuable services whilst in Command of escort vessels at Malta and was awarded the C.B. (Military) for services in charge of auxiliary patrols, Malta (London Gazette 15 July 1918). He was admitted to Bighi Hospital, Malta, in February 1919, and died there on 15 March 1919, from illness contracted while serving afloat. He is buried in Ta Braxia Cemetery, Malta.

Sold with copied record of service and other research.