Lyall, James
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
Regiment: 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders
Biography: Son of James Lyall, fisherman ; born Mac-duff, 12 August 1888 ; educated Banff Academy ; graduated M.A., 1910. He taught for some years in Turriff Higher Grade School, and in 1913 went to South Africa to take up an appointment in the Boys' High School, Grahamstown. Lyall was one of those sons of Alma who ''came from the ends of the earth'' to take his share in the great adventure of the European war. He enlisted in the 11th Battalion Gordon Highlanders in November 1915, and was commissioned to the 1st Battalion in the following December. After training in Aberdeen and Bridge of Allan he went to France in September 1916, but his term of foreign service was very brief. He was wounded at Beaumont-Hamel on 13 November, and died 14 November 1916 of the wounds he had received in action the previous day. Lyall's was a very alive, attractive personality, radiating life and cheerfulness whether at sport or study. He threw himself with unflagging zeal into the matter in hand, alike in the classroom with his pupils or in the strenuous days of military service.
Date of Death: 14 November 1916
Burial Details: Buried at Couin British Cemetery, Plot 5, Row A, Grave 5.
Publication: Roll of Service, edited by Mabel Desborough Allardyce. Published 1921.
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