Crimean War Victoria Cross Recipient. A native of Ireland, he received the award from British Queen Victoria on June 26, 1857 as part of the 1st investiture ceremony of the Victoria Cross at Hyde Park in London, England for his actions as a private in the 19th Regiment of Foot, British Army, on June 10, 1855 at Sebastopol, Crimea. He was born in Carlow County, Ireland, the exact date is unknown. After serving in the Crimean War, he was sent to India where he saw action in the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and promoted to the rank of corporal. He died in Naas, County Kildare, Ireland around the age of 43. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "On 10 June 1855 at Sebastopol, in the Crimea, Private Lyons picked up a live shell which had fallen among the guard of the trenches, and threw it over the parapet, thus saving many lives." In addition to the Victoria Cross, he also received the Crimean War Medal (with Alma, Inkerman, and Sebastopol clasps), the French Legion of Honour, and the Turkish Crimean Medal. His Victoria Cross is on display at the Green Howards Museum in Richmond, Yorkshire, England.
Crimean War Victoria Cross Recipient. A native of Ireland, he received the award from British Queen Victoria on June 26, 1857 as part of the 1st investiture ceremony of the Victoria Cross at Hyde Park in London, England for his actions as a private in the 19th Regiment of Foot, British Army, on June 10, 1855 at Sebastopol, Crimea. He was born in Carlow County, Ireland, the exact date is unknown. After serving in the Crimean War, he was sent to India where he saw action in the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and promoted to the rank of corporal. He died in Naas, County Kildare, Ireland around the age of 43. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "On 10 June 1855 at Sebastopol, in the Crimea, Private Lyons picked up a live shell which had fallen among the guard of the trenches, and threw it over the parapet, thus saving many lives." In addition to the Victoria Cross, he also received the Crimean War Medal (with Alma, Inkerman, and Sebastopol clasps), the French Legion of Honour, and the Turkish Crimean Medal. His Victoria Cross is on display at the Green Howards Museum in Richmond, Yorkshire, England.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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