Graham Thomson Lyall was born in Manchester on 8th March 1892, the son of Rev Robert Henry Lyall and Agnes Lisette Lyall. After qualifying as a mechanical engineer, he lived and worked in Canada, enlisting in the Canadian Canal Guard in September 1914, shortly after the outbreak of the First World War
In September 1915, Lyall was posted to the 81st Infantry Battalion and promoted to the rank of Corporal. On his return to England, he reverted to Private rank and was posted in June 1916 to France. Serving then with the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles, he was rapidly promoted through the ranks until, for conspicuous bravery in action, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in April 1917.
In the following year, aged 26, Lieutenant Lyall was awarded the VC during operations in France, north of Cambrai, with the 102nd Battalion, 2nd Central Ontario Regiment. On 27th September he had captured a strong point, and later rushed a machine gun position by himself, capturing more prisoners and machine guns; four days later he captured a further strong point with yet more prisoners and machine guns. The award was gazetted on 14th December 1918, and King George V decorated Lyall personally on 15th March 1919 at Buckingham Palace.
In the late 1930s Major Lyall, as an Ordnance Mechanical Engineer, successfully formed and commanded a Territorial Company of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. The appropriate RAOC personnel transferred to the Corps of REME on its formation in 1942.
Major Lyall was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in May 1940 and volunteered for overseas service; he left for the Middle East soon after, being promoted to Colonel in October 1940. Whilst attached to the General Staff, he commanded the 88th Lines of Communication.
Colonel Graham Thomson Lyall died whilst on active service in the Western Desert on 28th November 1941, aged 49. He is buried in the Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery.
