Robert William Lyons, HMS Goliath

HMS Goliath was a 13,150 ton Canopus-class battleship built in 1898. At the outbreak of the war she was in the Channel Fleet. She then transferred to the East Indies Station and saw action in German East Africa, including operations against the Germanlight cruiser SMS Konigsberg. She was transferred to the Mediterranean in 1915.She was sunk by three torpedoes from the Turkish Torpedo Boat Muavenet-i-Milliye whilst anchored in Morto Bay off Cape Helles. A total of 570 of the crew of 700 were lost.Robert William Lyons was born on 13 October 1884 at Greenwich, London. He was the husband of Elizabeth Margaret Lyons (nee Tomkinson) of 12 Summer Hill, Holyhead. His wife was born at Holyhead in 1885. They married at Greenwich in 1910. They had one child before her husband's death - Cyril L Lyons (b.1912). Other children were born subsequent to this - Olga P Lyons (b.1916) and Nora Lyons (b. 1917). His wife married David Owen Lloyd, a Butcher from Conway, at Holyhead in 1920.

Robert William Lyons was the son of Robert Alfred and Sophia Helen Lyons (nee Ford) of London. His father was a publican. He joined the Navy on 18 November 1902 for 12 years. He was promoted to Leading Cooks Mate in August 1913. In 1911 he served on HMS Fantome when she was employed as a survey ship in Australian waters. In November 1914 he extended his service for the duration of the war. He joined HMS Goliath on 30 July 1914.

Awarded the 1914-15 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal.

Commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 7.

Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HMS_Goliath_%281898%29_starboard_view.jpg