Background
Lyall was born in Manchester and joined the Royal Navy to study mechanical engineering.
Lyall was born in Manchester and joined the Royal Navy to study mechanical engineering.
However he was discharged from the Navy after suffering an ear infection. He emigrated to Canada, settling in Welland, Ontario, then moving to Chippawa, where he worked for a Power Company. He enlisted in the Canadian Militia in August 1914.
Lyall was 26 years old, and a lieutenant in the 102nd (North British Columbians) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War at the battle of the Canal du Nord when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Venture capital. On 27 September 1918 north of Cambrai, France, Lieutenant Lyall led his platoon in the capture of a strong-point, together with 13 prisoners, one field-gun and four machine-guns.
Later, leading his men against another strong-point he rushed forward alone and captured the position single-handed, taking 45 prisoners and five machine-guns. The completion of his final objective resulted in the capture of 41 prisoners.
Lyall returned to the United Kingdom in 1919 and joined the British Army. Lyall is buried at Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, Egypt located 10 miles east of Libyan border (plot XIX, row B, grave 2).
On 1 October in the neighbourhood of Blecourt, he captured a strongly defended position which yielded 60 prisoners and 17 machine-guns.