- 1914 Star. With contemporary clasp sewn on riband (28799 Gnr: C. Lyons. R.F.A.)- British War Medal. Silver issue (28799 Sjt. C. Lyons. R.A.)- Interallied Victory Medal (28799 Sjt. C. Lyons. R.A.)Convict: Cornelius Lyons - who subsequently became a professional soldier - was in his teenage years (he was 15 years of age at time of his first detected crime), a 'Guest of Her Majesty's Prison Service', when in 1900 he received 12 lashes of the cane and was then imprisoned with 'Hard Labour' at Wormwood Scrubs, prison. His 'first' criminal act was widely reported in newspapers of the time - some with considerable additional detail -including in Scotland, where the Dundee newspaper 'The Evening Post' issue of 4 May 1900 carried the below authoritarian article on the broadsheet's cover page (that it shared with a large cartoon sketch of Baden Powell in 'Fisty-Cuffs' against several Boer titled 'Still Holding Out' at Mafeking..Quote,THE VICIOUS YOUNG BURGLARA boy who stole £8 from his employer's safe, at night time, and then, in order to conceal his crime, set fire to the place and caused £2000 worth of damage, was sentenced at the Old Bailey to three months' imprisonment and twelves strokes with the birch rod.The boy's name is Cornelius Lyons, and he was employed on printing premises at 23 Garrick Street, W.C. According to his own confession, he and another lad concealed themselves on the premises on the night of Jan. 10, obtained possession of the keys of the safe, robbed it of £8, and then, on his own proposal set fire to the place.Mr. Justice Lawrance said had the priosoner been a man the sentence would have been ten years' penal servitude.UnquoteFurther incidents and charges were brough to bear on Lyons, who subsequently received other sentences for theft that netted him 14 months - with ard labour - in prison, spending time in both Bedford Jail and Wormwood Scrubs. On release from prison, Cornelius enlisted in the British Army.......Medals Verification: All medals and dated clasp confirmed as entitled per the respective medal rolls referenced below:- 1914 Star. With clasp: WO 329/2409. Disembarked France 14/10/14, serving 13th Brigade R.F.A., 'Meerut Division' of the Indian Corps- British War Medal. Silver issue: WO 329/67- Interallied Victory Medal: WO 329/67The recipients Medal Index Card shows that in October 1914, Cornelius Lyons was serving with 13th Brigade Royal Field Artillery under higher formation 'Meerut Division' of the Indian Army Corps in France.and that he qualified for the dated clasp and roses emblems that were issued to him on 2 March 1920. These were subsequently lost, and a charge (cost) was raised on 6 April 1920, for replacements which were reissued on 12 April 1920Cornelius Lyons (recorded as Lehan in 1891 Census for England & Wales) was a son of Irish migrant parents Cornelius Lyons (a General Labourer, from Cork - and sometime convict) and Ellen Lyons (born Cork, Ireland) was a native of, Lambeth, London, Surrey, England, where he was born on 27 December 1884. Prior to his convictions in his teenage years 1900-1901, Cornelius had been employed as a 'Printer's Labourer'. In spite of being described as a 'Habitual Criminal', he was after release from his last prison sentence, able to successfully enlist in the British Army on, 18 November 1902, on which date he was posted to the Royal Regiment of Artillery. At the time of the compilation of the National Census for England and Wales in 1911, he was recorded therein serving overseas in British India - where he remained at the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914. During the Great War he landed in Marseilles France in October 1914, at which time he was serving with 13th Field Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, under higher formation with the 'Meerut Division, of the Indian Corps. During the Great War he is recorded to have served: France (1914-15); Mesopotamia (1915-1918) and in Salonika (1919). He remained in the British Army post-war, and in 1920 received the unique army number '1042095'. At the time of the compilation of the National Census for England & Wales in 1921, he wis recorded holding the rank of 'Sergeant' while serving overseas with the British Army of Occupation at Constantinople, Turkey. When he took his final discharge from the British Army at Dover, England, on 17 November 1923, Conelius had completed 21 years service with 'The Colours', was holding the rank of 'Gunner', and his character and conduct were described as having been 'Good'. He is shown in the 1939 National Register employed as a 'Hospital Porter' and resident at Vauxhall Bridge Road, Pimlico, City of Westminster, London, England. Cornelius Lyons - former convict, and later professional soldier - is recorded to have died at London, England, on 17 May 1965The medals nicely mounted in the swing-style, in 'laddered' order as-worn by the recipient. The silk 'moire' ribands suspended from a white metal medal mounting bar that retains its long hinged pin and clasp fittingsCondition: About GVF