William Frederick Lyon

Born: April 1893

Died: 5 February 1919

Rank and Regiment: Private 29841 in the 9th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment

Resting Place: Maubeuge (Sous-le-Bois) Cemetery, France - C. 12

Memorials: St. Mary’s, Cranworth, United Kingdom

William was born in 1893 to parents James and Emma Lyon. Emma was born in Ireland but emigrated to London where she met and married James, a sailor, on 9th April 1893 in All Saints, Notting Hill. A year later William was born, followed by Bessie, Ethel and Arthur.

Sadly, by the 1901 cenus, James had passed away leaving 33-year-old Emma as a widow. She worked from home as a needleworker and as the sole carer to her children who were then aged 7, 6, 4 and 1 respectively.

2 years later in 1903, Emma remarried to George Williamson, a carpenter. In the 1911 Census, the family is recorded as living in Cranworth. Bessie appears to have left home, however George and Emma had children of their own named Jack (aged 8) and Robert (aged 3). William, Ethel, Arthur also lived at the home, along with George’s son, Ernest (aged 15).

Little is known of the circumstances of William’s death. After he enlisted, he was a Driver in the Royal Army Service Corps. He was killed in action in France at the age of 25 on 5th February 1919. He was buried in Mauberge (Sous-le-Bois) Cemetery in France. The epitaph on his headstone reads simply: AT REST. His next of kin is listed as “Emma E Williamson (formerly Lyon), of Meadow, Cranworth”. He was posthumously awarded the 15-star, Victory and British medals.

William’s effects appear to have been collected at two different points. Firstly, £1. 6s. 7d. was divided between his mother and Arthur. Later, a sum of £32. 3d. was split between his mother, Arthur, Bessie and Ethel. His pension was also collected by his mother.

Maubeuge (Sous-le-Bois) Cemetery, France