George Lyall
1887 - 1917
1887 - 1917
I am indebted to Derek Gay, who contributed this article.
I am indebted to Derek Gay, who contributed this article.
George William Lyall, born in Lincoln on 29th May 1887, was one of 5 sons of trainer Joseph Lyall who were to ride over jumps: elder brother Frank was second in the 1912 Grand National on Bloodstone, and youngest brother Bob, who rode the 1931 winner.
George William Lyall, born in Lincoln on 29th May 1887, was one of 5 sons of trainer Joseph Lyall who were to ride over jumps: elder brother Frank was second in the 1912 Grand National on Bloodstone, and youngest brother Bob, who rode the 1931 winner.
The other brothers were Tom, a professional jump jockey, and Joe, who rode as an amateur.
The other brothers were Tom, a professional jump jockey, and Joe, who rode as an amateur.
George was apprenticed to his father and then later to Charles Brown.
George was apprenticed to his father and then later to Charles Brown.
He rode his first winner over jumps in 1904 with his best season coming in 1911 when he rode 20 winners. George rode a career total of around 120 winners.
He rode his first winner over jumps in 1904 with his best season coming in 1911 when he rode 20 winners. George rode a career total of around 120 winners.
His win on Wilkinstown came on Monday, Jan 16, 1912 at Wolverhampton.
His win on Wilkinstown came on Monday, Jan 16, 1912 at Wolverhampton.
At the outbreak of war, he enlisted as a Private in a Yeomanry Regiment and was later commissioned as a 2nd Lt in a reserve of cavalry unit, based at Tidworth on the edge of Salisbury Plain awaiting active service.
At the outbreak of war, he enlisted as a Private in a Yeomanry Regiment and was later commissioned as a 2nd Lt in a reserve of cavalry unit, based at Tidworth on the edge of Salisbury Plain awaiting active service.
Monthly he saw members of the unit posted to the front but nothing came for him.
Monthly he saw members of the unit posted to the front but nothing came for him.
On the evening of December 7th, 1917, a Labourer walking through Tidworth Pennings (a partially wooded area) came across the body of an Army officer with a revolver by his side.
On the evening of December 7th, 1917, a Labourer walking through Tidworth Pennings (a partially wooded area) came across the body of an Army officer with a revolver by his side.
The body was identified as that of George William Lyall, missing from barracks since the morning of the 6th - it seems he had become depressed after a fellow officer had been posted to the front and he again missed out. The revolver was not his but that of a fellow officer which had been borrowed for target practice. The revolver had one live bullet and one spent bullet .
The body was identified as that of George William Lyall, missing from barracks since the morning of the 6th - it seems he had become depressed after a fellow officer had been posted to the front and he again missed out. The revolver was not his but that of a fellow officer which had been borrowed for target practice. The revolver had one live bullet and one spent bullet .
At the inquest, the verdict was returned as death by suicide whilst of unsound mind. He left a widow in Wrexham and is listed by the Army as a casualty of war, he is buried at Tidworth military cemetery, Wiltshire.
At the inquest, the verdict was returned as death by suicide whilst of unsound mind. He left a widow in Wrexham and is listed by the Army as a casualty of war, he is buried at Tidworth military cemetery, Wiltshire.