William John Lyon
Encyclopedia
For the Anglican priest with the same name see William John Lyon
William John (Jack) Lyon (15 February 1898 – 26 May 1941) was a New Zealand
politician of the Labour Party
. He was was killed in World War II
while serving with the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force
.
, becoming an officer in the Royal Sussex Regiment
.
. Lyon served on the Hastings Borough Council and Napier Harbour Board before moving to Auckland in 1931.
MP, he represented the Waitemata
electorate from the 1935 general election
to 1941.
, and was a Captain with the 18th Battalion when he was killed during the Battle of Crete
.
William John Lyon (archdeacon)
For the New Zealand politician with the same name see William John LyonThe Venerable William Philip Hurrell was an eminent Anglican priest in the mid 20th century....
William John (Jack) Lyon (15 February 1898 – 26 May 1941) was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
politician of the Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
. He was was killed in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
while serving with the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
The New Zealand Expeditionary Force was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight for Britain during World War I and World War II. Ultimately, the NZEF of World War I was known as the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force...
.
Early years
Lyon was born in London, England, and educated at a Brighton Grammar School. He won a scholarship to Oxford University, but did not take it up as he enlisted in the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, becoming an officer in the Royal Sussex Regiment
Royal Sussex Regiment
The Royal Sussex Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1966. The regiment was formed as part of the Childers reforms by the amalgamation of the 35th Regiment of Foot and the 107th Regiment of Foot...
.
Local politician
His health was damaged by mustard gas, so he emigrated to New Zealand in 1927 where he lived in HastingsHastings, New Zealand
The city of Hastings is a major urban settlement in the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island of New Zealand, and it is the largest settlement by population in Hawke's Bay. Hastings city is the administrative centre of the Hastings District...
. Lyon served on the Hastings Borough Council and Napier Harbour Board before moving to Auckland in 1931.
Member of Parliament
As a Labour PartyNew Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
MP, he represented the Waitemata
Waitemata (New Zealand electorate)
Waitemata was a New Zealand parliamentary electorate, from 1871 to 1946, and then from 1954 to 1978.-Population centres:This electorate is in the suburbs of Auckland.-History:The electorate existed from 1871 to 1946, and from 1954 to 1978...
electorate from the 1935 general election
New Zealand general election, 1935
The 1935 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 25th term. It resulted in the Labour Party's first electoral victory, with Michael Joseph Savage becoming the first Labour Prime Minister...
to 1941.
Death
With the outbreak of war, Lyon enlisted in the New Zealand ArmyNew Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
, and was a Captain with the 18th Battalion when he was killed during the Battle of Crete
Battle of Crete
The Battle of Crete was a battle during World War II on the Greek island of Crete. It began on the morning of 20 May 1941, when Nazi Germany launched an airborne invasion of Crete under the code-name Unternehmen Merkur...
.