The truly exceptional and unique combination Great War Mediterranean Operations Auxiliary Patrol Malta Commander’s July 1918 Order of the Bath, Malay Peninsula Perak Naval Brigade and South Africa Zulu War Naval Brigade Battle of Ginginhlovo and relief of Eshowe Gatling Gun Commander’s group awarded to Vice Admiral Herbert Lyon, C.B., Royal Navy, and also Commodore 2nd Class in the Royal Naval Reserve. Originally from Woodley, Pilkington, Lancashire, during an exceptional naval career spanning January 1870 to March 1919, he fought twice as an officer with the Naval Brigade on shore, and during the Zulu War served with distinction when in command of one of the two Gatling Guns, and manning the corner of the British square formed at the Battle of Ginginhlovo on 2 April 1879, services for which he was Mentioned in Despatches and promoted. He had command of the cruiser Retribution with the naval blockage during the Venezuelan crisis of 1902 to 1903, when involved in the steps taken to capture Venezuelan gunboats and the bringing off of British subjects. It was whilst in command of the battleship Formidable in the Mediterranean during 1907 to 1908 that he appears to have gained no less than six Foreign decorations, being decorated by the King of Spain with the Naval Order of Merit with the White Distinction, the Order of Military Merit with the White Distinction, both Grand Cross 3rd Class grades, and the 3rd Class Commander Grade of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, and further by the Sultan of Turkey with the Special Grade Gold and Silver Imtiyaz Medals, the former of which is of the highest rarity. In this period he also received the Commander Grade of the Greek Order of the Redeemer. Lyon’s final period of regular service was as Commodore 2nd Class and Naval Officer in Charge Hong Kong. Whilst holding this position, he was appointed Aide de Camp to King Edward VII on 5 November 1908. Promoted to Rear Admiral in April 1910, he was placed on the Retired List in January 1913. With the outbreak of the Great War he offered his services in any capacity available and was appointed as a Captain to the Royal Naval Reserve and in the following year, having returned to the Mediterranean, was given command of the former Egyptian Royal Yacht and hired patrol vessel Safar El Bahr from August 1915. Lyon had command of her in the Eastern Mediterranean. Whilst continuing as a Captain in the Royal Navy Reserve, he was promoted to Vice Admiral on the Retired List in October 1915, and in the following October was appointed to Egmont, the naval shore base at Fort St Angelo, when placed in charge of all armed patrol vessels as Malta as a Commodore 2nd Class. Lyon was brought to their Lordships favourable notice by Rear-Admiral Ballard for valuable services whilst in Command of escort vessels at Malta, being awarded a Mention in Despatches and then appointed a Companion of the Military Division of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, this being gazetted on 15 July 1918, ‘for services in charge of auxiliary patrols Malta.’ Lyon died in service of ill-health whilst at Bighi Hospital at Malta on 15 March 1919, being buried there in Ta Brexia Cemetery.
Group of 12: The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Companion, C.B., Military Division, silver-gilt and enamels; India General Service Medal 1854-1895, 1 Clasp: Perak; (H. LYON, MIDSN. H.M.S. “CHARYBDIS”.); South Africa Medal 1877-1879, Clasp: 1879; (SUB: LIEUT: H. LYON. R.N. H.M.S. “BOADICEA”.); 1914-1915 Star; (CAPT. H. LYON. R.N.R.); British War Medal and Victory Medal with original Mention in Despatches Oakleaf; (COMMRE. 2CL. H. LYON. R.N.R.); Greece - Kingdom of: Order of the Redeemer, Commander 3rd Class, neck badge, gold and enamels, with a small length of original ribbon and full silk neck band, housed in its fitted presentation case bearing makers details for Lemaitre of Paris; Spain - Kingdom of: Order of Naval Merit, Grand Cross 3rd Class Breast Star with White Distinction for Distinguished Services in Peacetime, silver-gilt and enamels, housed in its presentation case by Cejalvo of Madrid; Spain - Kingdom of: Order of Military Merit, Grand Cross 3rd Class Breast Star with White Distinction for Distinguished Services in Peacetime, silver, silver-gilt and enamels, reverse back plate bearing makers details for: Jose Fernandez Mayor of Madrid, housed in its presentation case that has the embossed monograph of King Alfonso XIII, and also bearing makers details on inside lid for Jose Fernandez Mayor of Madrid; Spain - Kingdom of: Order of Isabella the Catholic, Commander 3rd Class neck badge, silver-gilt, gold and enamels, this lacking ribbon; Turkey - Ottoman Empire: Nishan-i-Imtiaz Medal / Imtiaz Medal (İmtiyaz Madalyası), Special Grade large Gold Medal, gold - 22 carat weighing 43 grams, measuring 38 mm in diameter, reverse engraved: ‘CAPT. H. LYON R.N. 3RD. SEPT. 07.’; Turkey - Ottoman Empire: Nishan-i-Imtiaz Medal / Imtiaz Medal (İmtiyaz Madalyası) Special Grade large Silver Medal, silver, measuring 38 mm in diameter, reverse engraved: ‘CAPT. H. LYON R.N. 3RD. SEPT. 07.’ two Ottoman awards are mounted on a superb quality 9 carat gold and nickel silver top part pin, as once worn separately by the recipient. Both these medals are with newer ribbons, but otherwise clearly as the recipient once wore them, with the wearing pin interestingly of two parts - one gold and one silver, and joined together but representing both the 1st and 2nd Class medals. This is the first time we have come across such and elaborate pin assembly, and this was quite possibly uniquely acquired by Lyon or else he was presented with both medals together, as both are additionally engraved in exactly the same style and cleared awarded/ earned on the same date. British campaign medals are count mounted for display.
Condition: slight loss to enamel work on the wreath of the first, and small chip to enamel on reverse of the Greek award, first two British campaign medals with light contact wear and minor edge bruising, overall Good Very Fine.
Herbert Lyon was born on 28 December 1856 at Woodley, Pilkington, Lancashire, the son of A.W. Lyon J.P., of Abbots Clownholme, Rochester, Staffordshire. Educated at Windlesham House, Brighton, and then at the Reverend H. Burney’s Royal Academy in Gosport, he entered the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet aboard the Training Ship Britannia on 15 January 1870 when aged 13, and on passing out in December 1871, he gained six months sea time, and joined his first ship, the ironclad H.M.S Sultan, in December 1871, being confirmed in the rank of Midshipman on 20 June 1872. Whilst with H.M.S Sultan he saw service with the Channel Fleet. His posting to H.M.S Sultan was in many ways prophetic when takes into account his awards of both the 1st and 2nd Class Imtiyaz Medals by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, with H.M.S Sultan being named for Sultan Abdulaziz of the Ottoman Empire, who was visiting England when she was laid down.
Lyon was next appointed aboard the corvette H.M.S Charybdis in Cctober 1873 for service with the East Indies Squadron, and then spent near enough three years with this vessel, and as such was present with her during the Perak operations in the Lingie and Lukat rivers against Malay Chiefs, in the Straits of Malacca during 1874, where he saw service ashore with the Naval Brigade. Lyon was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 20 June 1876, and was then posted back home to join the frigate Topaze at Devonport, where she was in the process of being decommissioned. Lyon was then posted to Excellent at Portsmouth in September 1877 for a college examination, and on passing out he was awarded 3rd Class Certificates in both Gunnery and Navigation.
In April 1878 he was posted aboard the corvette H.M.S. Boadicea, and then saw service on the Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Station, but owing to the outbreak of the Zulu War, he saw service ashore from 19 March to 6 August 1879 with the Naval Brigade, and participating on active in Zululand when in command of one of the two Gatling Guns that accompanied the force, and as such was present at the Battle of Ginginhlovo on 2 April 1879, when the officers and ratings of the Naval Brigade manned, two deep, the waist-high rampart behind the shelter trench in Lord Chelmsford's laager, with rocket and Gatling gun detachments posted in the corners. This then led to the relieve of Eshowe on 3 Aril 1879.
Charles Pearson had led No. 1 Column of the British invasion force across the Tugela River to establish an advanced base at Eshowe. Having set up a base at a deserted Norwegian mission station, the British found themselves besieged by a Zulu imp under King Cetshwayo. A relief column was organised by Lord Chelmsford and departed Fort Tenedos on 29 March to relieve the garrison. Chelmsford had a relief force of 400 men from H.M.S Shah, 200 from Boadicea with a couple of Gatling guns, along with 57th Regiment of Foot, the 97th Highlanders and the 60th Rifles, the Natal Native Contingent and a mounted force commanded by Major Barrow. The column comprised 3,390 Europeans and 2,280 Africans, two 9-pounder guns, four 24-pounder rocket tubes and the two Gatling guns.
On 29 March the relief operation began, the force being ferried across the Tugela river. Despite travelling light, with no baggage or tents, progress was slow. Chelmsford took a route further to the east than Pearson, to avoid ambush in the close country Pearson had passed through. Rivers were swollen by the rains which fell each night and fearing a repeat of Isandhlwana, Chelmsford ensured his men spent much time laagering and entrenching their camp at the end of each day and kept ammunition boxes open. Despite this slow progress, Pearson's observers at Eshowe could see the relief column laagering on the south bank of the Neyzane (now Inyezane) on the evening of 1 April. The laager was sited on a 300foot ridge running roughly west–east. West of the ridge, the ground dipped, only to rise again to the 470foot Umisi Hill.
The ground sloped away in all directions, allowing a good field of fire. A trench surrounded a waist-high wall of earth, which enclosed 120 wagons, forming a square with sides 130yards long. While these defences were being constructed, mounted scouts spotted small parties of Zulus beyond Umisi Hill. That evening, a mist covered the valley and John Dunn made a reconnaissance, convinced that the mist concealed Zulu campfires. Accompanied by Captain William Molyneux of Lord Chelmsford's staff, Dunn make his way to the Ineyzane, which he swam across to examine the ground beyond. Dunn found an impi camp and narrowly avoided detection before rejoining Molyneux and reporting to Chelmsford. This impi was composed of 12,000 warriors, some of whom were Isandlwana veterans drawn from regiments in the main Zulu army, while the remainder were warriors who lived in the vicinity of Eshowe. Some of the Zulu commanders wanted to attack Chelmsford's forces that night, but Prince Dabulamanzi kaMpande, half-brother of King Cetshwayo and commander of the impi's right wing, convinced them to wait until morning.
At dawn on 2 April 1879, the morning sun revealed muddy ground and a thick mist. Chelmsford had decided, after hearing Dunn's report, not to continue toward Eshowe early the next morning. Instead, he would deploy units of the NNC to feel for the Zulus. As the NNC were preparing to advance, shots were heard from the night pickets still on duty. The impi was advancing; the main force split into two columns before crossing the Ineyzane and assuming the "chest and horns" formation. The left horn sharply curved to the right to assault the north-east corner of the laager, while the "chest" gently curved towards its the north face. Another force passed Misi Hill and approached the laager, forming the right horn of the impi.
The Bull's Head formation came at a run on the three sides of the laager as Chelmsford had wanted; at a range of 300–400yards the British infantry opened fire, supported by the Gatling guns and rockets. Zulu marksmen caused a few casualties within the laager but the defenders kept the Zulus at bay. Though the Zulu regiments made persistent rushes to get within stabbing range, their charges lacked the drive and spirit that had pushed them forward at the Battle of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. The only Zulu to reach the laager was a 10-year-old boy, who was taken prisoner by members of the naval brigade and later served as a mascot on their ship, Boadicea. Around 7:00 a.m., the impi had been halted but had not withdrawn. Chelmsford ordered his mounted troops to attack, soon followed by the Natal Native Contingent, John Dunn's scouts and the Boadicea commander with his flag-lieutenant. Many Zulu were killed as they swiftly retreated, though some turned and fought their pursuers.
Low's The Great Battles of the British Navy takes up the story:
'In this engagement, which consisted of a gallant attempt by the Zulus to capture the laager in which our troops entrenched themselves on the previous night, a detachment of seaman and marines took a prominent part. The British force consisted of 2,500 Natives and 3,400 Europeans, including the 57th, 3rd Battalion 60th, 91st and some companies of the Buffs and 99th Regiment, and a Naval Brigade drawn from H.M.S. Shah, Tenedos and Boadicea - with 2 guns, 2 Gatlings and 2 rocket-tubes, the seamen being led by Commander Brackenbury, and the Marines by Captain Phillips, both of the Shah. The Naval Brigade, with the guns, defended the four angles of the laager, and though the Zulu army, about 12,000 strong, under Dabulamanzi, attacked with their accustomed intrepidity, the fire from the guns and Martini-Henrys was so deadly that they were beaten back and dispersed with a loss of 1,200 men, 470 dead Zulus being buried close to the laager. In this action the British loss was 1 officer and 3 men killed, and 5 officers, including Lieutenant Milne, R.N., and 25 men, including 6 of the Naval Brigade, wounded.'
By 7:30 a.m., the Zulus had fled, leaving 1,100 dead and wounded behind; the British began to kill the Zulu wounded. Around the laager 700 Zulu bodies were counted and 300 more were killed during the pursuit. The British suffered two officers and nine men killed, including a lieutenant-colonel; four officers and fifty men were wounded.
The battle restored Chelmsford's confidence in his army and its ability to defeat Zulu attacks. With the last resistance between Chelmsford and Pearson's columns removed, he was able to advance and raise the siege of Eshowe on the following day.
For his gallant and distinguished services in command of one of the two Gatling Gun’s that accompanied the force, Lyon was awarded a Mention in Despatches by Commodore Sir Frederick Richards, and further to this was recommended for promotion, being then promoted to Acting Lieutenant on 21 January 1880, and later confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant with seniority backdated to 7 February 1880. By this time he was on service aboard the frigate H.M.S Flora, which was by then employed on harbour service.
In September 1880 he was appointed to President for further study and an examination, this time in order to qualify for his promotion, and he was then appointed to the sloop H.M.S Garnet from July 1881. This vessel can still be view today as it is on display in Chatham Dock as part of the UK’s National Historic Fleet. At this time Garnet was on the Pacific Station under Admiral Rous de Horsey, and based out of Panama City. She spent much time shadowing the events of the War of the Pacific before embarking on a patrol around the Pacific. He however then transferred to the gun vessel H.M.S Rifleman from November 1881, before transferring to the troopship H.M.S Himalaya from May 1883, the battleship H.M.S Hercules from September 1884, and the corvette H.M.S. Tourmaline from August 1886 when employed on the North America and West Indies Station. On 15 August 1889, the corvette visited New York.
Lyon was then posted aboard the base ship H.M.S Duke of Wellington from November 1889 and the Devonport training establishment H.M.S Impregnable from March 1890, and was still there when he was promoted to Commander on 30 June 1894, being then posted to the Devonport base Vivid from September 1895. Lyon’s next seagoing appointment was aboard the sloop H.M.S Pelican from January 1898 and seeing service out in the Pacific, where he was when he transferred to the corvette H.M.S Curacoa from February 1899, which vessel was then employed on the Australia Station and operating in the Pacific. Lyon then transferred to the corvette H.M.S Cleopatra from August 1900, and on his promotion to Captain on 31 December 1900, he took command of the cruiser H.M.S Sirius in July 1901, before being appointed to command of the cruiser H.M.S Retribution from June 1902.
It was whilst he had command of Retribution that Lyon saw service off the northern coast of South Africa during the Venezuelan crisis of 1902 to 1903. This was a naval blockade imposed against Venezuela by Great Britain, German, and Italy from December 1902 to February 1903, after President Cipriano Castro refused to pay foreign debts and damages suffered by European citizens in recent Venezuelan civil wars. Castro assumed that the American Monroe Doctrine would see Washington intervene to prevent European military intervention. However, at the time, United States president Theodore Roosevelt and his State Department saw the doctrine as applying only to European seizure of territory, rather than intervention per se. With prior promises that no such seizure would occur, the U.S. was officially neutral and allowed the action to go ahead without objection. The blockade saw Venezuela's small navy quickly disabled, but Castro refused to give in, and instead agreed in principle to submit some of the claims to international arbitration, which he had previously rejected. Germany initially objected to this, arguing that some claims should be accepted by Venezuela without arbitration.
Years later, Roosevelt claimed he forced the Germans to back down by sending his own larger fleet to Venezuela under and threatening war if the Germans landed. However, he made no preparations for war against a major power, nor did he alert the Senate or officials at the State, War, and Navy Departments. With Castro failing to back down, U.S. pressure and increasingly negative British and American press reaction to the affair, the blockading nations agreed to a compromise, but maintained the blockade during negotiations over the details. This led to the signing of an agreement on 13 February 1903 which saw the blockade lifted, and Venezuela commit 30% of its customs duties to settling claims. When the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague subsequently awarded preferential treatment to the blockading powers against the claims of other nations, the U.S. feared this would encourage future European intervention. The episode contributed to the development of the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, asserting a right of the United States to intervene to stabilize the economic affairs of small states in the Caribbean and Central America if they were unable to pay their international debts, in order to preclude European intervention to do so.
Lyon’s service record notes that he proceeded to Venezuelan waters in December 1902 and was involved in the steps taken to capture Venezuelan gunboats and the bringing off of British subjects were satisfactorily carried out.
Lyon was posted back to Vivid from October 1904, and then had command of the battleship H.M.S Trafalgar with the Reserve Fleet from April 1905, before assuming command of the armoured cruiser H.M.S Cornwall from March 1906, and assigned to the 2nd Cruiser Squadron of the Channel Fleet.
Lyon’s next posting was to the command of the battleship H.M.S Formidable from January 1907, which vessel was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet. This posting would be fruitful and he would receive a host of Foreign honours. Lyon had only just arrived in the Mediterranean when (as his service record confirms) he was in February 1907 ‘granted permission to accept and wear Order of Naval Merit (Spain)’, and he further had command when Formidable formed part of the naval force that was inspected by His Majesty King Edward VII during his visit to the Mediterranean in the Royal Yacht “Victoria and Albert” on 8 April 1907. On that same day, whilst at sea off Cape Palos, the King of Spain, Alfonso XIII, came out of Cartagena in his yacht “Gerald”, and a Royal Salute was fired from all ships present. The Spanish warship Numancia was also in attendance, and official visits were exchanged between the various Civill and Military Authorities, and that same evening, all Flag Officers and Captains were invited to dine aboard the Spanish warship Numancia, with His Majesty the King of Spain and the Queen Mother, and His Majesty King Edward VII being present.
Before dinner, the King of Spain ‘was pleased to present to the undermentioned Officers the Naval Order of Merit, and His Majesty King Edward was graciously pleased to give permission for it to be accepted and worn.’ Captain Herbert Lyon is one of those on that list to receive the Naval Order of Merit, being presented with the Grand Cross Breast Star with White Distinction for distinguished services in peacetime. The version with the White Distinction (con distintivo blanco) - was awarded in peacetinme for actions, deeds or distinguished service during missions or ordinary or extraordinary service in the armed forces or in connection with defence of Spain. The official list of officers decorated on that day further notes that Captain Lyon was already in possession of the Order of Isabella La Catholica (hence the Order of Isabella the Catholic Commander’s insignia that is included with the group), as that insignia was denoted in brackets behind his name. In all 15 Royal Navy officers were awarded the Naval Order of Merit by the King of Spain on 8 April 1907. What is interesting however it that Lyon was not in the follow on list of confirmed awards compiled for the attention of the Admiralty on 12 April 1907, despite his being shown as one who was presented with it before the dinner, and instead he is the shown in a memo of that time as having been instead awarded the Commander 3rd Class Grade of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. What may appear to be the case is that Lyon had rendered more that one service to the King of Spain, as we know he was already in possession of the Order of Naval Merit since as early as February 1907, hence on 8 April 1907 when received for dinner by the King of Spain, this situation must have become apparent, and having in error been listed again for the same award, it was rectified on the spot with his being presented with the Order of Isabella the Catholic. This was then granted to him with permission to wear as of 12 April 1907. However a Buckingham Palace letter dated 24 June 1907 adds further to the confusion. Written from the Private Secretary to King Edward VII and addressed to the Secretary of the Admiralty, ‘begs to inform him that His Majesty has given private permission to the following Officer to accept and wear the Decoration shown against name’, this being detailed as the ‘Spanish Order of Military Merit Lyon’s own service records confirm that he was in April 1907 ‘given private permission to wear Spanish Order of Merit (Military)’. This award had obviously been deemed a suitable compensation by the King of Spain, and by default he became entitled to wear privately all three awards, the Naval Order of Merit with the White Distinction and the Order of Military Merit with the White Distinction, both Grand Cross 3rd Class grades, and the 3rd Class Commander Grade of the Order of Isabella the Catholic.
It was also during his time in command of Formidable that Lyon’s was also awarded both the Gold and Silver Imtiyaz Medals by the Sultan of Turkey, with both being awarded to him on 3 September 1907. The Imtiyaz Gold Medal was the highest Ottoman military decoration for gallantry. The reason for his awards remain a mystery, however his service records, whilst not detailing two decorations, do state that on 30 September 1907 he was ‘granted private permission to wear the Nichan-Imtiaz Medal (Turkish)’. The Who Was Who 1916-1928 list however states that he was awarded the ‘gold and silver medal 2nd and 3rd class of the Nichan-Imtiaz (Turkey)’. The Nichan-Imtiaz Medal’s were only awarded in two grades, Gold being 1st Class and Silver being 2nd Class. Both the medals awarded to Lyon are the Special Grade versions and larger, measuring 38 mm in diameter. The Who Was Who 1916-1928 also confirms his award of the Commander Grade of the Greek Order of the Redeemer, though no exact date is given, and there is no mention of it in his services records. It is assumed that he earned it circa 1907-1908.
Having been recommended for appointment to Commodore, Lyon received a posting out to Tamar, the naval base at Hong Kong, which he joined in August 1908 when placed in command there in the appoinfment of Commodore 2nd Class and Naval Officer in Charge Hong Kong. Whilst holding this position, he was appointed Aide de Camp to King Edward VII on 5 November 1908.
On his return to England he was promoted to Rear Admiral on 14 April 1910 but at his own request was placed on the Retired List on 24 January 1913.
Owing to the outbreak of the Great War, Lyon offered his services to the Admiralty in any capacity available, and as such was then appointed in the lesser rank of Captain to the Royal Naval Reserve on 16 November 1914. He was then given command of the former Egyptian Royal Yacht Safar El Bahr on 23 August 1915. This vessel had been hired that same year by the Royal Navy as a patrol vessel. Lyon had command of her in the Eastern Mediterranean. Whilst continuing as a Captain in the Royal Navy Reserve, he was promoted to Vice Admiral on the Royal Navy Retired List on 24 October 1915, and in October 1916 was appointed to Egmont, the naval shore base at Fort St Angelo, when placed in charge of all armed patrol vessels as Malta as a Commodore 2nd Class in the Royal Naval Reserve.
Lyon was brought to their Lordships favourable notice by Rear-Admiral Ballard for valuable services whilst in Command of escort vessels at Malta, being awarded a Mention in Despatches and then appointed a Companion of the Military Division of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, as published in the London Gazette for 15 July 1918, fort services in charge of auxiliary patrols Malta.
Lyon’s health was however rapidly failing him, and having contracted an illness whilst serving afloat, he was admitted to Bighi Hospital at Malta in February 1919, where he then died on 15 March 1919. Lyon is buried in Ta Brexia Cemetery at Malta.
