1898 May 1. Born. Kingston, Jamaica
1903 Visited New York
1913 Arrives in New York from Jamaica on SS Obidense. He and his mother are on the manifest as Jamaican and ethnic West Indian. His mother is 34 and he is 15.
1914 Sep 22. Enlists, and increases his age by 2 years to get into the Canadian Army - attestation form. His next of Kin is his mother Mrs Emma Lyon in 275 JarvisSt, Toronto
1915 Jul 31. Lands in France
1918 Jan 24. The undermentioned Cadets to be temp.2nd Lts. (on prob.). Lloyd Diets St. Aubyn Lyon
1919 Feb 28. Died in an aircraft crash off Howth, Dublin on a flight from Chester. Son of Mrs. Emma Lyon, of 98, Northcliffe Block, Toronto. Enlisted in 3rd Bn. Canadian Inf.
Airman Lost In Dublin Bay – Canadian’s Fall of 9,000 Feet [The Irish Times 03 Mar 1919]
Just at nightfall on Friday last the attention of residents on the Sutton side of Howth Hill was attracted by the flashing of lights in a field not far from the Baily Lighthouse. Inquiry disclosed the fact that two aeroplanes had descended in the field, and that an accident had occurred in Dublin Bay, apparently involving the loss of one life. It appears that three aeroplanes, in one of which was seated Flight Lieutenant J Lyon MM, of the Canadian Royal Air Force, set out from Chester on Friday to fly to the aerodrome at Baldonnell, County Dublin. They crossed the Channel at an altitude of about 9000 feet, and when nearing the Hill of Howth the three machines put their noses down with a view to the landing at Baldonnell. The flight leader at this point noticed the Lieutenant Lyon’s machine had apparently developed engine trouble, and saw it descend rapidly and land on the surface of the water at a point about five miles south of the Baily. The leader proceeded on to Howth, and descended in a field near the Baily, and immediately telephoned for a patrol boat to be sent out from Kingstown. Meanwhile the third aeroplane came down close to the water and hovered round the spot where the accident had happened. The pilot saw the broken down machine sink, and Lieutenant Lyon floating in the water. A sailing vessel was leaving the Bay, and the airman flew towards her, and sought to attract the attention of those on board, indicating the spot where his companion was struggling in the water. The sailors responded to his signals, but apparently failed to understand his meaning or realise that there had been an accident, for the vessel did not alter her course. The third machine was developing engine trouble, and the pilot flew on to the Baily after the flight leader, who had in the meantime telephoned for a patrol boat. The leader then went out to the scene of the accident, but could find no trace of either Lieutenant Lyon or his machine in the water. Darkness was setting in when he returned to Howth. A patrol boat was despatched to the scene from Kingstown at about 5.30 pm, but was equally unsuccessful in its search. The two airmen who landed at Howth were well looked after, and hospitably accommodated for the night at the residence of a gentleman in the vicinity of the spot where they descended. Naturally the news of the accident caused a painful sensation at Howth. During Saturday and Sunday boats went out into the Bay and searched in vain for any sign of Lieutenant Lyon or his machine.
Commemorated Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton
