b. 16/01/1898 Montrose, Scotland. d. 28/04/1923 Rangoon, Burma.
DATE OF AM ACTION: 04/05/1916 Aberdeen, Scotland.
Walter was the eldest of five children born to Alexander and Ethel Elizabeth Lyell (nee Legat). His father was a local JP of Gardyne Castle, Guthrie. Walter was educated at Montrose Academy and Haileybury College, Hertfordshire. He joined the Inns of Court as a cadet and was commissioned into the Gordon Highlanders Special Reserve. He was wounded three times during the Great War, before travelling to the Malay States after being demobilised in 1919. He worked fo the forestry department of Steele Brothers, Rangoon, before he contracted black water fever, and died aged 25. It is believed he was related to Lord Lyell.
AM CITATION:
On the 4th May, 1916, Lieutenant Lyell was in command of a party under instruction in throwing hand grenades. One of the men threw a grenade on to the parapet directly in front of the party, thus placing them in great danger. Lieutenant Lyell at once ran up, and, picking up the bomb, threw it over the parapet.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
FAMILY PLAQUE AT ROSEHILL CEMETERY, MONTROSE, SCOTLAND.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.