Jack Lyon

William John (Jack) Lyon (15 February 1898 – 26 May 1941) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. He was killed in World War II while serving with the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

Jack Lyon
Member of Parliament, Waitemata
In office 28 November 1935 – 26 May 1941 †
Preceded by	Alexander Harris
Succeeded by	Mary Dreaver
Personal details
Born	15 February 1898 London, United Kingdom
Died	26 May 1941 (aged 43) Crete
Cause of death	Killed in action
Military service
Branch/service	British Army New Zealand Military Forces
Years of service	1914–1919 1939–1941
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	First World War Second World War Battle of Greece Battle of Crete  †

Early years

Lyon was born in London, England, and educated at a Brighton Grammar School. He won a scholarship to Oxford University, but did not take it up as he enlisted in the British Army, becoming an officer in the Royal Sussex Regiment.

Local politician

Lyon was active in the UK Labour Party.[1] His health was damaged by mustard gas, so he emigrated to New Zealand in 1927 where he lived in Hastings. Lyon served on the Hastings Borough Council and Napier Harbour Board before moving to Auckland in 1931.

In 1935 he stood unsuccessfully for the Auckland City Council on a Labour Party ticket.[2]

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1935–1938	25th	Waitemata		Labour
1938–1941	26th	Waitemata		Labour

Lyon contested the Hawkes Bay electorate in the 1928 election, but was beaten by the incumbent, Hugh Campbell of the Reform Party.[1][3]

As a Labour Party MP, he represented the Waitemata electorate from the 1935 general election to 1941.[4] Out of respect to Lyon, the National Party decided not to contest the by-election resulting from his death.[5] The by-election resulted in the return of the third woman to the New Zealand House of Representatives, Labour's Mary Dreaver.[6]

Death

With the outbreak of war, Lyon enlisted in the New Zealand Military Forces, and was a Captain with the 18th Battalion when he was killed during the Battle of Crete.

Notes

1. "Death in Action". The New Zealand Herald. LXXVIII (23984). 6 June 1941. p. 9. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
2. "Electoral". LXXII (22108). The New Zealand Herald. 14 May 1935. p. 16. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
3. Wilson 1985, p. 187.
4. Wilson 1985, p. 213.
5. "Waitemata Seat". The New Zealand Herald. LXXVIII (23985). 7 June 1941. p. 10. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
6. Laracy, Hugh. "Dreaver, Mary Manson". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 22 July 2012.

References

• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
• Gustafson, Barry (1986). From the Cradle to the Grave: a biography of Michael Joseph Savage. Auckland: Reed Methuen. p. 286. ISBN 0-474-00138-5.

External links

• Captain Lyon during withdrawal from Greece (text)
• Cenotaph entry