Royal Naval Biography/Lyons, Edmund
EDMUND LYONS, Esq.
[Post-Captain of 1814.]
A son of the late John Lyons, of the island of Antigua, and of St. Austen’s House, Lymington, co. Hants, Esq. at which latter place he was born, Nov. 21, 1700.
Mr. Edmund Lyons first went to sea, for the benefit of his health, in the Terrible 74, commanded by his early friend and constant patron, Sir Richard Bickerton, Bart, at which period he could not have been more than 8 years of age. After a cruise in that ship, having in the course of it determined to become a sailor, his parents sent him to Winchester school for three years, and at the expiration of that time placed him under the care of Sir Harry Neale, then captain of the Queen Charlotte yacht. He subsequently served five years in the Active frigate, Captain Richard Hussey Moubray, chiefly on the Mediterranean station[1]. One of the official letters relative to the expedition against Constantinople informs us, that he was employed under Sir Sydney Smith’s flag lieutenant at the demolition of the formidable redoubt on Point Pesquies, Feb. 21, 1807[2] and that that gentleman spoke “in the highest terms of praise of the officers and men under his direction.”
Mr. Lyons left the Active about Aug. 1808, and was appointed second lieutenant of the Baracouta brig, on the East Indian station, Nov. 21, 1809. It will be seen by reference to p. 508 of Vol. II. Part II. that he was particularly named by Captain (now Sir Christopher) Cole, as one of “the foremost in the escalade” at the storming of Fort Belgica, in the island of Banda Neira, Aug. 9, 1810; “an achievement which, for boldness of conception in the design, and daring courage in the execution, has rarely been equalled, perhaps never excelled, in the annals of British enterprise.”
The intelligence of this conquest was carried to Madras by the Baracouta; and on her arrival there, Mr. Lyons was immediately appointed flag-lieutenant to the commander-in-Chief, Rear-Admiral William O’Brien Drury, after whose demise [3], he continued in the Minden 74, Captain Edward Wallis Hoare, which ship was soon despatched to the coast of Java, with part of the 14th regiment on board, to await the appearance of the expedition then getting ready for the reduction of that important colony[4]. From the day of her arrival there, Lieutenant Lyons was constantly employed in reconnoitring, and assisting Captain George Sayer, of the Leda frigate, in procuring information relative to the force and position of the enemy.
In obedience to the senior officer’s directions. Lieutenant Lyons frequently reconnoitred Fort Marrack, in the Straits of Sunda; and having volunteered an attack on it. Captain Hoare was ordered by Captain Sayer to place 200 troops, and 200 seamen and marines, at his disposal.
Every thing was arranged; the attempt was to have been made at midnight, and the Leda and Minden were to have appeared off the harbour at break of day, to further the operations; but alas! to the unspeakable mortification of Lieutenant Lyons, his captain received information that a large reinforcement had been thrown into the fort, and therefore judged it proper to defer the attack. The disappointment of a young man, who, not yet 21 years of age, had been appointed to command 400 brave fellows, on such an occasion, may he more easily conceived than described – however, an opportunity occurred soon after of attacking the same place, under circumstances still more desirable for him, as will be seen by the following official letters:–
“H.M.S. Minden, Straits of Sunda, July 31, 1811.
“Sir,– I beg leave to inform you, that, in compliance with Captain Sayer’s directions, I despatched Lieutenant Lyons, of this ship, on the 25th inst. with her launch and cutter, containing 19 prisoners of war, with directions to land them at Batavia, and whilst there and on his return, to gain all the information possible as to the enemy’s movements on this part of Java.
“On approaching Marrack, Lieutenant Lyons’ extreme zeal for the service induced him, with the force he commanded, to attack that fortress, the success of which so very far surpasses all my ideas of possibility, with so small a force, that any comment from me would be superfluous.
“I have directed Lieutenant Lyons to state his reasons for making the attack, and his mode of doing so, which I enclose for your consideration; and have only to add, that his conduct on every former occasion, since he has been under my command, has merited my warmest approbation and esteem. I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed)“E. W. Hoare.”
“To Commodore Broughton, &c &c. &c”
(enclosure.)
“H.M.S. Minden, July 31, 1811.
“Sir, In obedience to your directions, to state my reasons for attacking Fort Marrack, on Tuesday, the 30th inst. with two boats’ crews of H.M.S. Minden, I beg to refer you to the annexed letter, which I regret miscarried, notwithstanding my earnest endeavours to forward it.
“You likewise desire me to describe the mode of attack, which was as follows:–
“Having made every necessary arrangement during the day, I placed the boats at sunset behind a point which sheltered them from the view of the enemy’s sentinels; at half-past twelve, the moon sinking in the horizon, we proceeded to the attack, and were challenged by the sentinels on opening the point; at this instant a volley of musketry from the enemy precluded all hope of a surprise, I therefore ran the boats aground in a heavy surf, under the embrasures of the lower tier of guns, and placed the ladders on them, which were mounted with that bravery inherent in British seamen, whilst a few men placed for the purpose, killed three of the enemy in the act of putting matches to the guns. A few minutes put us in possession of the lower battery, when we formed the men, and stormed the upper one: on reaching the summit of the hill, we perceived the garrison drawn up to receive us; they sustained our fire, but fled from the charge, on my calling to them, that we had 400 men, and would give no quarter.
“At one o’clock, the other battery and two gun-boats opened their fire upon us, which we returned with a few guns, whilst the remainder of the men were employed in disabling the guns in our possession, and many other parts of the battery which it was practicable to destroy: we had completed this by day-light, when I judged it prudent to embark; on reaching the boats, I had the mortification to find the launch bilged, and beaten up so high by the surf, as to leave no prospect of getting her afloat; I therefore felt it a duty incumbent on me to embark the men in the cutter.
“The sun was now rising, and I humbly flatter myself, the momentary gratification the enemy may have felt by our leaving the launch, must have vanished when he beheld a small boat bearing away his colours, a public and undeniable proof of the few men who attacked him, amounting to only thirty-five, including officers.
“Having detailed the particulars of this little enterprise, I beg to point out in the strongest terms, the very conspicuous gallantry of Mr. William Langton, midshipman, who received a slight wound from a bayonet, and of Mr. Charles Henry Franks, a youth of fifteen, who volunteered to hoist the British colours, a service he performed most gallantly, under a heavy fire[5]. I hope the above detail may be considered a sufficient panegyric on the bravery of the seamen employed, and I have heartfelt satisfaction in adding, that we had only four men slightly wounded; I imagine the loss of the enemy must have been severe, but only know of three being killed. Marruk is situated on a promontory mounting 54 guns, (18, 24, and 32-pounders), and was garrisoned at that time by 180 soldiers, and the crews of two gun-boats. I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed)“Edmund Lyons.”
“To Captain Hoare, H.M.S. Minden.”
(letter alluded to above)
“H.M.S. Minden’s Launch, Pulo Panjang, July 28, 1811.
“Sir,– I had some conversation yesterday with several very intelligent residents of Batavia, from which I drew the following conclusions,–
“That the enemy has no intimation of the expedition being near Java, and I am pretty well assured he does not expect to be attacked this monsoon; I therefore conceive an attack on Fort Marrack, may draw his forces towards that quarter, and make a favorable diversion, and for this reason I intend to storm it on Monday night, which I hope may meet with your approbation.
“I beg to assure you, that Mr. Langton and I have succeeded in inspiring the men with a degree of confidence necessary for the undertaking, and have no doubt of a favorable issue. I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed)“Edmund Lyons.”
“To Captain Hoare, &c.”
Immediately after this most splendid exploit, Lieutenant Lyons was despatched in the Minden’s cutter to await Commodore Broughton’s arrival oflF Batavia, and to communicate to him the destruction of Fort Marrack. In a letter from that officer to the Secretary of the Admiralty, dated Aug. 10, 1811, he says, “I beg you will be pleased to inform their Lordships, that, although the attack was made contrary to orders; yet I cannot refrain from highly approving the gallantry and zeal displayed on this occasion by Lieutenant Lyons, and the petty officers and men under his command, against the very superior force of the enemy.”
On the arrival of Commodore Broughton, Lieutenant Lyons was appointed to command five gun-boats, which had been most gallantly taken a few days before by Captain Robert Maunsell[6]. We subsequently find him serving in the batteries opposed to Meester Cornelis, under the orders of Captain Sayer, who had made a special request for him to be thus employed, instead of returning to his ship, which was then at a distant part of the island. In answer to this application. Captain Sayer received the following message from Rear-Admiral the Hon. Robert Stopford:–
“I beg you will tell Mr. Lyons from me, that I consider myself fortunate and happy in procuring the services of an officer who so eminently distinguished himself by his gallant and successful attack on Fort Marrack, and I fully approve of his remaining with you.”
In order to avoid repetition, we must here refer our readers to the memoir of Captain Sayer, C.B. for an account of the services performed by the naval brigade, under his command, during the operations against the enemy in Java. It will there be found stated, that Meester Cornelis was taken by assault on the 26th August[7].
At that period. Captain Sayer, and the subject of this memoir, had been four months actively employed in paving the way for the complete expulsion of the enemy from the Eastern hemisphere, and their minds so fully engaged, that they felt no ill effects from the climate and constant exposure; but the evening after the glorious assault of Cornelis, when the seamen were ordered to re-embark, they were both attacked with the fever, and for some days Captain Sayer’s life was despaired of. Lieutenant Lyons was obliged to be invalided, and just as he was about to sail for England, he received the following letter from his distinguished commander and friend:–
“H.M.S. Leda, Batavia Roads, Aug. 31, 1811.
“My dear Lyons,– I should have written to you sooner, but I have been so weak till to-day, that I have been unable.
“I would thank you for your assistance, but could hardly find terms strong enough to convey my meaning.
“As our acquaintance has now been of some duration, I have taken a few liberties with your name to our admiral, that he may publish to the Admiralty, the character of so meritorious a fellow as it deserves to be.
Yours ever sincerely.
(Signed)“George Sayer.”
“To Lieut. Lyons, H.M.S. Minden.”
Mr. Lyons returned home with Captain Cole, in the Caroline frigate; and obtained the rank of commander. Mar. 21, 1812. In April, 1813, he was appointed to the Rinaldo brig, on the Downs station, which vessel formed pail of the squadron under the Duke of Clarence, when H.R.H., as Admiral of the Fleet, escorted Louis 18th to France, and the allied sovereigns of Russia and Prussia to England. She also brought over from Boulogne, Mr. Planta, the bearer of the treaty of Paris.
Captain Lyons’ post commission bears date June 7, 1814; from which period he remained unemployed till Jan. 18, 1828, when he was appointed to the Blonde 46, fitting for the Mediterranean. On the 30th Oct. following, he reported to Vice-Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm, commander-in-chief on that station, the submission of the last hold of the Turks in the Peloponnesus: the following is an extract of his official letter to that officer:–
“In obeying your order to act in concert with the senior officer of his Most Christian Majesty’s ships, I have had the good fortune of finding myself associated with those distinguished officers, Captains Mauduit Duplessis, of la Duchesse de Berri; Hugon, of l’Armide; and Villeneuve, of la Didon; and in detailing the proceedings of the Blonde, I at the same time describe those of the French frigates; for I assure you, that throughout an arduous service of twelve days and nights, in very unfavourable weather, the most perfect concert and hearty co-operation have been invariably manifested.
“On the 18th instant. General Schneider expressed a wish that four 18-pounders should be landed from each ship; and in less than four hours they were on shore, with all their appointments; the difficulties occasioned by the surf on the beach being overcome by the fine spirit which animated all, French and English being in the water mutually assisting each other. In this operation, the zeal and intelligence of Lieutenant Thomas Saumarez Brock were very conspicuous.
“On the 20th instant. Lieutenants Alfred Luckraft and Sidney Colpoys Dacrcs; Messrs. Mockler, Hay, Blair, and Austen, mates; and Messrs. de Saumarez, Kennedy, Hawkins, and Dor, midshipmen, landed with a party of seamen and commenced making the batteries, under the direction of the French officers of engineers and artillery.
“At nine o’clock on the 22d, the battery opened its fire on Morca Castle, and in a few hours silenced the guns opposed to it; but as the army advanced in their approaches to the breaching battery, the castle opened fresh guns, which rendered it necessary for the marine battery to fire at intervals, for eight days and nights.
“Last evening, the guns of the frigates, with two 24-pounders, which Admiral de Rigny landed from the Conquerant on his arrival, and such of the battering train as the weather enabled us to disembark, were fairly established in the two breaching batteries, named by Lieut.-Gen. Maison, Charles X. and George IV., the French and English guns being promiscuously placed in each; and at day-light this morning, together with the mortar battery and the AEtna bomb, opened such a tremendous fire on the castle as to produce, in four hours, an unconditional surrender.
“I am sure you will be glad to find, that the zeal and professional talent exhibited by Captain Stephen Lushington, his officers, and ship’s company, have excited the admiration of all.
“The AEtna was worked up in the night, under reefed courses, and close reefed topsails, anchored, and sprung, with such precision, within 800 yards of the castle, as to enable that intelligent officer. Lieutenant George Logan, of the royal marine artillery, to throw 102 shells into the castle, only the first four going too far. Captain Lushington assures me, that he received the most valuable assistance from Lieutenant Baldwin W. Walker.
The gallantry and zeal displayed by our countrymen on this occasion are highly eulogised by the commander of the French forces, the Marquis Maison, in his official despatches, dated Oct. 31, at which period the British colours were flying alongside the lily of France, upon the lately supposed impregnable walls of the “Chateau de Morea.”
Captain Lyons married, July 18, 1814, Augusta, second daughter of the late Captain Josias Rogers, who commanded the Quebec frigate, at the capture of the French West Indian islands, in 1794, and was cut off in the midst of a gallant and prosperous career, to the infinite sorrow of his patron, Admiral Sir John Jervis, who pronounced him to have “a mind fertile in resources, a clear head, and a gallant heart.” Mrs. Lyons is a niece to the late Rear-Admiral Thomas Rogers, who died suddenly in her arms, at Tours, in France, Sept. 20, 1814.
- ↑ See Vol. I. Part II. pp. 807–810. N.B. We should have mentioned, in the account of Rear-Admiral Moubray’s services, that the Active never was in harbour a month at any one time during the whole period of his command.
- ↑ See p. 197.
- ↑ Mar. 6, 1811. See Nav. Chron. v. xxvi, pp. 179 and 203.
- ↑ See Suppl. Part II. p. 196.
- ↑ Son of Charles Franks, Esq. of Cork, Ireland.
- ↑ See p. 37.
- ↑ See Vol. II. Part I. pp. 354–357.