More about Burnett Lyon

The photograph is that of A.B. Burnett Lyon, of the Howe Battalion Royal Naval Division, whose death in action at Gallipoli occurred on 15th November.  A.B. Lyon, who was 23 years of age, was the younger son of Mr and Mrs J. Lyon, 22 Gardener Street.  He joined the Royal Naval Division 5½ months before he laid down his life.  A.B. Lyon served his apprenticeship as an upholsterer with Thomas Justice & Sons, Ltd, Dundee, and prior to enlisting he was employed in the General Post Office, Dundee.

Dundee Courier December 22nd 1915

Burnett Lyon was the son of Mr John and Mrs Christina Lyon, 22 Gardner Street, Lochee, Dundee. He was employed as an Upholsterer when, in May 1915, he volunteered to join the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve onboard HMS Unicorn for service in the Royal Naval Division. After initial Naval Training at the Crystal Palace in South London he was sent to Blandford Camp in Dorset for advanced military training in July. At the end of August he was granted seven days leave before he was drafted to the Howe Battalion serving in Gallipoli and he arrived on the Peninsula on 11 September. Burnett Lyon was killed in action in mid November and was buried by the Reverend Beville Close, RND Chaplain, in Clunes Vennel Cemetery. He was reinterred after the war in Twelve Tree Copse, Gallipoli. Grave ref 2 C 18.

Iain Stewart and Iain Birnie