Great War Aerial Artillery Observer’s 1914-1915 Star trio awarded to 2nd Lieutenant A.W.J. Lyons, Army Service Corps later Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force who had seen service on the Western Front from 7th September 1915. Transferring to the Royal Flying Corps on 13th August 1917 he would be attached to 6 Squadron as an Observer in France on 6 Squadron from 19th October 1917 and then later with 8 Squadron on 1st December 1917. He would shoot down an enemy aircraft on 1st January 1918 whilst being piloted by Captain A.M. Swyny, an unusual feat for an artillery observer. Returning to 6 Squadron on 21st February 1918, he would subsequently return to the UK on 22nd May 1918, before transferring back to the Royal Army Service Corps on 10th June 1919 and being demobilised on 1st September 1919.
Group of 3: 1914-1915 Star; (2. LIEUT. A.W.J. LYONS. A,S.C.) British War Medal and Victory Medal; (LIEUT. A.W.J. LYONS. R.A.F.)
Condition: Good Very Fine
Arthur William Lyons was born on 1st March 1888 and served in the ranks of the Gloucestershire would be commissioned into the Army Service Corps on 3rd May 1915 giving his occupation as Clerk with the Canadian Pacific Railway, Calgary. He would serve in France from 7th September 1915 with the 183rd Company, Army Service Corps. (No. 2 Company, 21st Divisional Train). In August 1916 he transferred to 182nd Company, Army Service Corps. (No. 12 Section, 21st Divisional Train). In 1917 he was residing at 5 Victoria Quadrant, Weston-Super-Mare.
Lyons transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 13th August 1917 and was posted back to France on 16th October 1917. On 19th October 1917 he was attached to No. 6 Squadron as an Observer, and then later to No. 8 Squadron on 1st December 1917. He would be promoted to Flying Officer (Observer) on 21st January 1918. He had on 1st January 1918 shot down an enemy aircraft out of control whilst flying with Captain A.M. Swyny (who was the pilot). This is an unusual occurrence for an Artillery Observation Squadron.. Re-posted back to No.6 Squadron on 21st February 1918, and qualified as an Observer on 15th February 1918. He would return back to the UK on 22nd May 1918, and on 10th June 1919 transferred back to 534 Company, Royal Army Service Corps being demobilised on 1st September 1919.
