David Lyons

From The Dreadnought Project
Jump to: navigation, search

CommanderDavid Lyons, (6 July, 1872 – 26 March, 1949) served in the United States Navy.

Life & Career

Lyons was born in Cardiff, Wales, and emigrated to the United States at a young age. He enlisted in the Navy and served for nearly ten and a half years as an enlisted man before being appointed Gunner on 30 July, 1897. Seven years later, following service aboard battleship Massachusetts during the Spanish-American War, he received a commission as Ensign on 30 July, 1904.[1][2] In 1907, he served as commanding officer of destroyer Barry, and received promotion to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 July, 1907.[3]

In the years leading up to American involvement in World War I, Lyons served as Executive Officer protected cruiser Tacoma and was in charge of the recruiting station in Brooklyn, New York from 1915 to 1916 before becoming Executive Officer of auxiliary cruiser Dixie, then being used as a submarine tender. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander on 29 August, 1916.[4][5][6]

Remaining on Dixie into 1918, Lyons was promoted to the temporary rank of Commander on 15 October, 1917. On 5 August 1918 he assumed command of transport Zealandia and eventually earned the Navy Cross for his service. Following the war, he was appointed to command stores ship Bridge and remained in this posting until July, 1921. He was promoted to the permanent rank of Commander on 1 January, 1921.[7][8][9][10]

This proved to be his last seagoing service. Lyons completed his service at the Naval Ammunition Depot Lake Denmark before being placed on the Retired List on 6 July, 1922 for ineligibility for promotion due to age.[11][12] Unlike many officers who retired between the World Wars, Lyons was never recalled to active duty, and died in early 1949.

See Also

Bibliography

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Adolphus E. Watson
Captain of U.S.S. Barry
8 Jan, 1907 – 28 Dec, 1907
Succeeded by
Joseph V. Ogan
Preceded by
William K. Riddle
Captain of U.S.S. Bridge
1919[13] – Jul, 1921[14]
Succeeded by
Richard P. McCullough

Footnotes

  1. Register of Officers, 1900. pp. 70-71.
  2. Register of Officers, 1905. pp. 44-45.
  3. Register of Officers, 1908. pp. 36-37.
  4. Register of Officers, 1914. p. 262.
  5. Register of Officers, 1916. p. 26.
  6. Register of Officers, 1917. p. 24-25.
  7. Navy Directory 1 March 1918 p. 102.
  8. Register of Officers, 1918. p. 22.
  9. Register of Officers, 1919. pp. 24-25.
  10. Register of Officers, 1920. pp. 18-19.
  11. Register of Officers, 1922. pp. 20-21.
  12. Register of Officers, 1923. pp. 270, 360.
  13. Register of Officers, 1920. pp. 18-19.
  14. Register of Officers, 1922. pp. 20-21.