Military History

Enlisted as Trooper at Guildford 5.10.1914. Appointed Sergeant 5.1.1914.
Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Mashobra’ A47 for Egypt 8.2.1915.
Roll Rank Sergeant.
Roll Unit 3rd Light Horse Brigade, 10th Light Horse Regiment, ‘A’ Squadron.
Lyall disembarked in Egypt with his Regiment. He joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) at Alexandria and embarked for Gallipoli 16.5.1915. He was wounded in action at ANZAC, and evacuated per HMT ‘Galeta’ with a septic wound on his back 1.6.1915. He was admitted to the No.1 Australian General Hospital at Heliopolis 20.6.1915. On discharge, he rejoined his Unit at Gallipoli 20.7.1915. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant 7.8.1915. Lyall was wounded a second time, with a gunshot wound to his left forearm 9.8.1915. He was evacuated to Malta 9.8.1915, then transported by Hospital Ship (HS) ’Somali’ to England 20.8.1915. Lyall was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth 14.9.1915. He was discharged to duty 12.10.1915. Lyall returned to duty at Heliopolis Egypt 14.2.1916. He was promoted to Lieutenant. 24.3.1916. In 1917 and was attached to the 3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade Headquarters 23.1.1917. Lyall returned to his 10th Light Horse Regiment 3.3.1917. He reported to 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance with diarrhoea 18.4.1917. Lyall was mentioned in Despatches of General A. Murray for his role in the Battle of Gaza 17.3.1917. He was attached to 10th Light Horse as Staff Captain 20.4.1917- 4.7.1917 and qualified at the Imperial School of Instruction in Topographical Training. Lyall attained the 5th top mark of course with 87% 15.9.1917. He was promoted to T/Captain 8.10.1917 and appointed Acting Staff Captain at 3rd Australian Light Horse Headquarters 18.10.1917. Lyall was awarded a Military Cross 1.1.1918 and was made Captain 29.6.1918. He ceased attachment to the 3rd Light Horse Brigade. 13.10.1918. Lyall was promoted to Acting Brigade Major to the 3rd Australian Light Horse Headquarters 25.10.1918 - 1.1.1919 and 15.1.1919.  to Demobilisation. He marched out for return to Australia, having served in Gallipoli, Egypt, Sinai, Jerusalem and Palestine
Embarked Kantara per HT ‘Oxfordshire’ for Australia 10.7.1919.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 4.8.1919.
Appointment Terminated 3.10.1919.
Final Rank Captain. M.C. 10th Light Horse Regiment.
Medical Condition NK (twice wounded).
Awards and Medals Military Cross, 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal,
Mentioned in Dispatches'(London Gazette,' Supplement No. 30169, 6.7.1917: Comonwealth)
‘For distinguished Service in the Field in connection with military operations, culminating in the capture of Jerusalem’. (London Gazette 11.4.1918)
Citation for Military Cross:
‘Lieut (Temp. Capt) William McIntosh LYALL 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment
As Staff Captain of the 3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade during operations 31st October- 11th December 1917, he carried out his duties with untiring zeal and energy. No trouble was too great any time of day or night for this Officer to obtain supplies for men and horses and to do all that was possible for their comfort.’
(AWM Honours and Awards)
Notes His family came from Narracourt SA where they were early settlers.(Narracourte Herald 26.8.1918 p2). His brother KC Lyall also served with distinction in WW1. Lyall boarded at Guildford Grammar School from 1902-1907, he died 3.7.1976.
Photos  Captain William McIntosh Lyall. Photo reproduced with kind permission of J. Lyall
              Australian Troops being towed ashore at Gallipoli. Photographer R.M. Bowman photograph source AWM P2194.005
              Australian Light Horse at the Battle of Gaza March 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM J06558
              HMAT 'Oxfordshire'. Photographer unknown, photgraph source AWM 04714.005

Information Sources
AWM P2194.005. Australian Troops being towed ashore at Gallipoli. Photographer R.M. Bowman photograph sourced from the PIctorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM J06558. Australian Light Horse at the Battle of Gaza March 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the PIctorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM 04714.005. HMAT 'Oxfordshire'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll William McIntosh Lyall
AWM Honours and Awards William McIntosh Lyall
Guildford Grammar School Honour Roll
Lyall J.  Captain William McIntosh Lyall. Photo reproduced with kind permission of J. Lyall
NAA: B2455, Lyall William McIntoshNarracourte Herald. SA


Burytown, WA.
 

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