William's Story.
William Henry Lyons was born in Liverpool in 1892 to parents John, a dock labourer, and Mary Ellen. By 1901, the family had moved to Birkenhead and William was living with his parents, three sisters, Ellen, Margaret and Catherine at 59 Payson Street, Birkenhead.William’s father died in 1909 so in 1911 his widowed mother and sisters had moved to 238 Brook Street, Birkenhead. William is not listed with the family but instead was an inpatient at the Borough Hospital.
In May 1913 William enlisted in the 4th Battalion King’s Liverpool Regiment but only lasted two months; then on the 4th December 1913 William joined the Royal Garrison Artillery. He was initially posted to Pembroke Dock but on the 5th February 1914, while at Shoeburyness near Southend-on Sea, William deserted.
Following the outbreak of the First World War William joined the Mercantile Marine Reserve and was attached to HMS Eagle, a frigate based in Brunswick Dock, Liverpool. Sadly, William contracted meningitis and died on the 28th April 1917.
Grave photograph and research by Chris Booth