KILLED IN ACTION

Camp News, Volume 2, Issue 77, 13 June 1941, Page 6

KILLED IN ACTION

Captain W. J. Lyon, M.P. For Waitemata

SERVICE IN TWO WARS

The death of Captain W. J. Lyon, Labour M.P. for Waitemata, is reported in a New Zealand Expeditionary Force casualty list issued yesterday. Captain Lyon, who was killed in action, had represented Waitemata in the House of Representatives * since 1935. He enlisted early in the war, and also served in the Great War from the age of 17,. as an n.c.o. and an officer.

After the Great War Captain ’Lyon served for a time in the War Office with the Military Intelligence Division, Codes and Ciphers. He arrived in New Zealand in 1927, settling in Hawke’s Bay. Captain Lyon unsuccessfully contested the Hawke’s Bay seat in 1928. He was elected to the Hastings Borough Council and the Napier Harbour Board in . 1929 but resigned to live in Auckland. He worked in the interests of the unemployed in Auckland, and was president of the Auckland Provincial Unemployed Workers’ Association foi two years. He contested seats on the Auckland City Council and the Auckland Harbour Board, without success, but became a co-opted member of the employment committee of the Auckland City Council. He was elected to Parliament in the Labour Party’s interests in 1935 and retained his seat in 1938 with a majority of more than 2000.

■ A tribute to the memory of Captain Lyon was paid yesterday by the Act-ing-Prime Minister, Mr. Nash. “Jack Lyon was one of the most lovable members of Parliament, respected by all sections,” he said. “His speeches were always clear, logical, well-informed, and won him the esteem of all who heard him. Interested in the Labour movement in 'England, he joined up with the Labour Party shortly after his arrival in the Dominion, and. after unsuccessfully contesting the Hawke’s Bay seat, he was elected for Waite mata in 1935, and has held the seat till his passing away.

“He will be missed greatly by all his friends and his Parliamentary comrades will feel the break of his parting,” said Mr. Nash. “His love for New Zealand and the British Commonwealth took him into the present conflict immediately after the outbreak of war, and no man had a clearer conception of the issues at stake. The heartfelt sympathy of everyone will go out to his sorrowing wife and children.’’