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Auction: 20003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 451

The emotive campaign group of three awarded to Lieutenant S. A. Lyons, Royal Artillery, who was killed in action in the early hours of D-Day, 6 June 1944, when his glider was shot up, became detached from its tow and ditched some five miles from the French coast, his body was subsequently washed ashore - his wallet, including photographs and filters for his torch, were recovered from his body and returned to his widow

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, together with his Army Council compliment slip in the name of 'Lieutenant S. A. Lyons' and box of issue named to his widow 'Mrs M. M. Lyons, 59 Taylor Rd., Oldfield Brow, Altrincham, Cheshire', good very fine (3)

Samuel Alfred Lyons was born in Staffordshire in 1922, son of Alfred Thomas and Florence Lyons. His father was a famous footballer who turned out 239 times for Aston Villa Football Club as a strong tackling full-back. In his career he won the League in 1909-10 and the F.A. Cup in 1913.

Lyons was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the South Staffordshire Regiment in November 1942 and was transferred (as Lieutenant) to the Royal Artillery on 3 August 1943. He was serving with the 4th Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery Royal Artillery and appears in a full battery photograph in late 1943. Their mission on D-Day 1944 was to land by glider and support the left flank of the Normandy invasion force to prevent any German Armour reaching the landing beaches.

Like so many young men he hastily married his sweetheart Muriel Mary Good on a special licence at the end of May 1944. Lyons was in Glider Chalk No. 99 and was towed by Flight Lieutenant Hobbs of No. 644 Squadron in a Halifax R.LL340, they took off from Tarrant Rushton Airfield at 01.25hr as part of the third wave of gliders to land on Drop Zone 'N'. It seems the tow rope became detached due to flak and crashed into the sea.

The glider pilots, Staff Sergeant New and Sergeant Gibbons were both killed whilst the other passengers Gunners Taylor and Machin, Bombardier Hill were also killed. Bombardier Leatherbarrow was the only survivor.

The fact the glider ditched very heavily caused the immediate casualties, but an eye witness who survived recalls how Lyons survived the impact and clung to the wrecked glider till it broke up. He was treading water for some time and then died - either exhausted or as a result of wounds sustained during the crash.

His body was washed ashore at Grainval on 11 July 1944 at 20:00hrs and was buried in Fecamp Civil Cemetery. His widow managed to obtain a comprehensive account of what occured on that fateful day and visited Sam's grave at the first opportunity.

Sold together with a complete original archive comprising:

(i) Letters and correspondance related to his loss, to his widow.

(ii) Accounts, in French, of his loss and the recovery of his body.

(iii) War Graves Commission details and images of the visit of his widow.

(iv) His leather wallet, named 'S. A. Lyons' on the inner, with water-damaged images and red and green torch filters, as returned to his widow.

(v) Book of Common Prayer, with presentation inscription 'Samuel Lyons' pasted to inside cover.

(vi) Unit cloth and metal insignia and badges, together.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£650

Starting price
£230