Son of Nathaniel and Sarah Jane Lyon, of 10, Rowson St., Prescot, Lancs.
Census Details
1901 Census -
Living at 7, Carvers Court (off Market Place), were Nathaniel Lyon, a 32 year old Labourer at the Wire Factor, his wife Sarah (32) and children Lucy (6), James (3) and Nathaniel (4m)
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
Knowsley
Resided
Prescot, Lancs
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Research Ref. No.
P188
Service Details
In September of 1917, the 18th Battalion of the regiment was heavily involved in the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele. On the first of the month, they were in support but on the night of the 6th/7th they took over the front line defences in what was known to be a particularly uncomfortable part of the line. The enemy was extremely vigilant and no movement by day was possible, but wiring parties and patrols were busy in No Mans Land each night.
The German artillery barrages tended to last for almost exactly eight minutes, and each time this happened the Royal Artillery retaliated immediately, causing the Germans to stop firing.
The battalion were relieved from the line on the 11th and moved back to camp at Dranoutre. On the 21st, they once again moved back to a support role. The risk of even a support assignment could be gauged by the fact that in relieving the Green Howards, the battalion had six men killed and eight wounded. It is almost certain that James Lyon was one of these men. His body was recovered and he is buried on Torreken Farm Cemetery.
The Parish Magazine of 25th October 1917 reported the death of Pte. Lyon as follows:- “Pte. James Lyon, 19, the King’s Liverpool. Killed in Flanders 24th September 1917, of 10, Rowson Street”. This date seems to be in error, as all official records show his death as occurring on the 21st.
Private 359287 John LYON
Unit/Regiment
1st/10th Bn, King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Date of Death
07/08/1918
Age at Death
22
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Houchin British Cemetery
II C 25
CWGC Family Details
(if shown)
Son of Sarah Lyon, of Baker St., Huyton Quarry, Liverpool
Census Details
1901 Census -
Joseph Lyon (32, an Ironworker) and his wife Sarah (34), lived at 3, Baker Street, Huyton, along with children Sarah (8), John (5), Mary (3) and Edith (1)
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
SDGW – Where Born
Huyton, Lancs
Enlisted
Prescot
Resided
Prescot, Lancs
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Research Ref. No.
P189
Research ongoing
John Lyon's Medal Index Card
Private 3831 William LYON
Unit/Regiment
3rd/5th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death
Last quarter of 1916
Age at Death
51
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Prescot Cemetery
Census Details
See narrative below
Research Ref. No.
P187
Service Details
On 22nd May 1915, William Lyon attested into the 3rd/5th South Lancashire Regiment at St Helens, being allocated the number 3831. His address is shown as 13, Moss Street, Prescot. His next of kin was listed as his wife, Elizabeth, of the same address and he was a Coal Miner by trade. The 3rd/5th was a Reserve Battalion, formed with the purpose of training reinforcements for the battalions already serving overseas.
His Medical Inspection records his as being 38 years old. He stood just over 5 foot 8 inches tall had a 36 inch chest measurement, expandable by 3 inches, and had “Good” vision and “Good” physical development. He as classed as “Fit” for military service.
After training, he was sent to France on 3rd April 1916, arriving there the following day.It appears that he served with the 4th Battalion of the Regiment whilst in France.He served there until 20th September 1916 when he was sent home to England, arriving there in 21st September.
His record shows that he was then discharged from the service on 19th October 1916 at Preston due to being medically unfit for service. The records do not record details of any wounds or injuries.
At the time of his discharge he was aged 39 years and 5 months, and had a “sallow” complexion, brown eyes, dark hair “turning grey”.His military character was not assessed as there was no military conduct sheet available at the time he was discharged.
Private Lyons was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Investigation shows that it was likely, but not certain, that Private Lyon lied about his age when he joined up. This is based on a finding in the 1901 census of a likely match for the man mentioned above, but aged 36 at the time. William Lyon, with his wife Elizabeth and 5 children, lived at 5, St Helens Road. William was a coal miner. With the exception of this one man, there are no other likely candidates in the census. If this is the same man, then he would have been aged about 50 when he attested for military service, hence the theory that he might have lied about his age. Finally, there is a death registered in Q4/1916 (Volume 9b, Page 930), in Prescot for William Lyon, aged 51.
I believe that the above supports the theory of the link between a) the man named on the 1901 census, b) the man whose military service is summarised above and c) the man who died in late 1916.
The Parish Magazine of 27th November 1916 reported the death as follows. “Pte. William Lyon of 4th S. Lancs. Died at his home in Moss Street of an illness contracted in the trenches. He was 51 and 3 of his stalwart sons are now at the Front. Pte. Lyon was buried with full military honours”.
Prescot Reporter 14th September 1917
William Lyon's Medal Index Card
Lance Corporal 129535 Michael MADDEN
Unit/Regiment
"J" Special Coy, Royal Engineers
Date of Death
23/03/1918
Age at Death
23
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Bac-Du-Sad British Cemetery
I B 3
Census Details
1901 Census -
At 13 Mill Street, Prescot, is Patrick Madden (50), a coal miner, and his wife Ellen (48). Also there are their children Thomas (22), John (13), Michael (6) Annie (18) and Margaret (15)
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Birth Registered Q4 1894 in Prescot, 8b, 698
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
Blackburn, Lancs
Resided
Darwen, Lancs
How Died
Died of Wounds
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Formerly 4135 Lancashire Fusiliers
Research Ref. No.
P190
Research ongoing
Michael Madden’s Medal Index Card shows his initial service with the Lancashire Fusiliers, with whom he first arrived in France on 28th December 1914. His Royal Engineers service is also shown. His medal entitlement was to the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal
Michael Madden's grave at Bac-Du-Sad
Picture courtesy and copyright of "Ponte Fractus", a Pal of the Great War Forum
Pioneer 128898 John MALONEY
Unit/Regiment
No 1 Special Coy, Corps of Royal Engineers
Date of Death
22/08/1917
Age at Death
44
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Ramscapelle Road Military Cemetery
II B 32
Census Details
1891 Census –
The Maloney family lived at 36, Sewell Street, Prescot and consisted of parents Michael, aged 47 and a Shoemaker, his wife Elizabeth (41) and their children John (17, a Coal Miner), James (13, a Pawnbroker’s Assistant), Joseph (9), Thomas (7), Catherine (6) and William (4).
1901 Census –
John, now 27 and still working as a Coal Miner, was married to Cecilia (25) and lived at 9, Cambridge Street
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Marriage to Cecilia Grogan registered in the December quarter of 1894, Volume 8b, Page 1128
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
Prescot
Resided
How Died
Killed In Action
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Formerly 22057 S. Lancs. Regt. (No 1 Sec. Coy. RE)
Research Ref. No.
P191
Service Details
Brother of Joseph Maloney who was killed in action in March 1918.
The Parish Magazine of 26th September 1917 reported “To the long list of names of those of our gallant men who have given their lives for the Empire must now be added the following”. Included in the list is “Pte. John Maloney, 44, of Royal Engineers. Killed in Action 23rd August 1917. He leaves a widow who lives at 139, Kemble Street”.
John Maloney’s grave at Ramscapelle
Private 51739 Joseph MALONEY
Unit/Regiment
16th Bn., Cheshire Regiment
Date of Death
23/03/1918
Age at Death
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Pozieres Memorial
Panel 35 and 36
Census Details
1891 Census –
The Maloney family lived at 36, Sewell Street, Prescot and consisted of parents Michael, aged 47 and a Shoemaker, his wife Elizabeth (41) and their children John (17, a Coal Miner), James (13, a Pawnbroker’s Assistant), Joseph (9), Thomas (7), Catherine (6) and William (4).
1901 Census –
Joseph, now 19, is still at the same address and working as a Coal Miner (Drawer)
On the 24th July 1918, the Parish Magazine had published a list of known casualties to date. Then on the 26th August, the magazine reported “Omitted from the Memorial Service List was the name of Pte. Joseph Maloney, 16th Cheshire, of 15 East Street. Fell in action 23rd March 1918, brother to John Maloney who fell in August 1917”.
Private Maloney’s inscription on the Pozieres Memorial
