Private John Joseph Lyons. 

32495 11th East Lancashire Regiment.

Died of Wounds 9th September 1918. Aged 24.

John married Ophelia Hartley in the Sept. quarter of 1912 in Burnley.

From the Burnley Express dated 25 September 1918: EVERYBODY LIKED HIM. THE BEST STRETCHER BEARER.

The death from wounds on September 9th is definitely reported of private J J Lyons 32495, of the East Lancashire Regiment, and whose parents reside at 3 King Street Burnley. The deceased soldier who was 24 years of age and listed on October 6th 1914, and went out in June 1915, he is the only son of Mr and Mrs Lyons and was formerly a split motion maker and attended St Mary's RC Church. His sister's husband is serving with the forces.

A comrade Herbert O'Donnell, has written: "it is probable that you will have already heard from the chaplain that poor John died on Monday, the day after he was wounded. It was a terrible shock to everybody especially myself, as I was always with him. The doctor said the bullet has gone through his left lung, and as he bled internally there was no chance. I have seen the Grave, which is in a nice Cemetery a long way from the line. I know he was the best of lads and would be a good son to you: and being the only one you will feel it all the more. It will please you to hear that everybody liked him for he was most cheerful always and was as brave as any man who ever went up the line. I can do no more than offer my heartfelt sympathy for I can conceive your feelings."

The Rev Loneragan Catholic Chaplain at the Australian number 2 C.C.S says:-"in offering you my heartfelt sympathy I know that you will find some consolation in hearing that I was by his side and that he received the last Sacrament. The poor boy was mortally wounded in the chest, and he did not last long after he was brought into the field hospital. I have buried him in a nice quiet and well kept cemetery not far from Hazebrouck."

The Rev D Tyndale also writes as CE Battalion Chaplin: "although he was not one of my lads he was one of the best friends in the Battalion, and I shall miss him very very much - in fact all the company will.  He was one of the bravest and most cheerful and most unselfish men I have ever met out here. You may be proud of him and there is many a man in England now will always be grateful to one of the most devoted stretcher bearers that the war has seen. He had only so very lately got back from his leave that it seems most especially hard, but for him I am sure we need not grieve, since he did his duty nobly and well."

Lived at 3 King Street.

John left his effects to his widow Ophelia.

John was buried in La Kreule Military Cemetery, Hazebrouck, France: Grave Ref; III.D.5.