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Name: LYALL
Initials: J.
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Scots Guards
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 35
Date of Death: 25/07/1917
Service No: 15749
Additional information: Husband of Jennie Baird (formerly Lyall),
of 7, Park Place, Netherton, Wishaw, Lanarkshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: VII. E. 15.
Cemetery: DUHALLOW
A.D.S. CEMETERY
On the cross it says 'L/Cpl'. However he was actually promoted
to Corporal. The photo shows two stripes.
Copy of orginal document sent to my grandmother Jean Lyall, token
within the ground of Boesinghe Chateau which was the headquarters
of the Scots Guards. He was later reburied in Duhallow Advanced
Dressing Station.
My grandmother Jean Lyall aproximately one year after her husband
James was killed on 25/07/1917. The little girl standing is my mother
Joy born on the 14/03/1916. The little girl sitting on her knee
is my aunt Peggy who was born 26/08/1917 exactly one month after
her father was killed.
Extract from a letter dated 17th July
Page 2: He mentions 'Andrew' who was a cousin and who was also
killed.
Page 3: He states "Is has been a great relief to know that
she is getting well again". He is talking about my mother -
her first daugther Joy.
'Dearest you know what I am hoping for and I trust it will be
alright.' My grandmother was expecting another baby soon and he
was hoping for a son as explained on the rear of the family photo.
The new baby was a girl and born one month and a day after he was
killed.
Extracts from probably James Lyall's last letter. He was killed
four days later.
Extracts taken from the 'War Diaries' & included in this book
'The Scots Guards in the great war' - click on the picture to enlarge.
Extract from the War Diaries sent to me by Scots Guards Headquarters
at Wellington Barracks, London. It mentions Baboon trench. 2 killed
was of course my grandfather James Lyall and A.R. Thorn was the
other. They are buried together in Duhallow Cemetery.
Also documents sent to my grandmother - click to enlarge
Born on the 27.6.1881
Died on the 25.7.1917- age should have been recorded as 36.
The card states he was killed in France when he was killed at the
Yser canal near Boesinghe in the 3th battle of Ypres. The poem also
mentions 'O'er the grave in sunny France'.
My grandmother and mother both died thinking he was buried in FRance.
They were unable to visit his grave.
A poem written before but recited by my brother Robert at the graveside
in Duhallow when the family visited for a special occasion. James
Lyall was commemorated on a brass plaque placed after a dedication
ceremony by the Rev. R. F. Jones in St.
George's Memoral Church.
Click to enlarge.
Thanks to Tom Jenkins for this contribution. James Lyall was his
grandfather.
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