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Pte. James Jesse Lyman MM.
British Army 2nd Btn. B Company, 8th Platoon Oxfordshire and Bucks Light Infantry
from:Gayhurst, Buckinghamshire
(d.11th Sep 1918)
Before enlistment James Lyman worked at Cox’s Dairy Farm in Gayhurst,Buckinghamshire. He was one of seven brothers to serve in the war and was the only one to die. Most of his brothers joined up within a year after war had broken out, but his eldest brother Harry was below the required height for recruitment. James enlisted at Bletchley on the 18th March 1916 and then proceeded to France in the following July. James was moved to the 2nd Ox and Bucks Light Infantry were he got his first taste of battle in Bethune.
On the evening of 11 September 1918 the men of 8th Platoon, 2nd Ox and Bucks LI were advised that they were going to go over the top after the artillery barrage had finished. The weather was terrible and the floor was thick with mud. The companies were to attack with a frontage of 1,500 Yards and 100 Yards between each wave. B company (8th Platoon) went too far to the left during the attack resulting in a considerable gap between B and D Company and therefore the Germans were able to hold off the two companies in the gap. Communication was very difficult and all signal lines gave at once.
Jim Lyman was heavily wounded during the push for Lock 7 on the evening of the 11th, He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. It was unknown what he did but from what we know from the war diaries and a letter received from the Brigade Chaplin it seemed he could have volunteered to be a runner and was injured doing so. James was brought back to the advanced field hospital where he was unconscious and beyond all human help. He died a few minutes later. The brigade Chaplin, Rev. George Galbraith, buried James in a shallow grave behind the lines where he then read a short personal service at James’ graveside.
In November 1918, the ribbon of the Military Medal was awarded posthumously to Private Lyman and would be sent to his mother by the Colonel, who wrote; "I knew him well. He was a good soldier, a credit to his regiment and to himself." Major General C. Pereira, C.B., C.M.G., Commanding the 2nd Division, also wrote, congratulating Mrs. Lyman on the bravery of her son.
