Graham Thomson Lyall VC (8 March 1892 – 28 November 1941) was an English-born soldier in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

[1] As part of the Canadian 4th Division, Lyall's battalion was involved in the Battle of the Canal du Nord on 27 September 1918.

Advancing against German forces in Boulon Wood, his platoon was held up by a series of strong points but due to his leadership, these were all overcome.

[3] The citation for his VC read: On September 27th, 1918, when the leading company was halted near Boulon Wood by an enemy strong point Lt. G. T. Lyall executed a flank movement with his platoon and captured it together with prisoners and its guns.

Lt. Lyall led forward his few remaining men, then rushed the position single-handed, killing the officer in charge, and took it with its machine guns, capturing numerous prisoners.

On October 1st, near Blecourt, by skilful disposition of the weak company he then commanded, he overcame another strongly held position, seizing numerous guns and many prisoners.

He showed throughout most conspicuous bravery, high powers of command, and skilful leadership.Lyall was presented with the VC by King George V in March 1919.

[5] After the outbreak of the Second World War, Lyall was mobilised and his company based at Stirling, with the division responsible for the defence of central Scotland.

[6] In 2003, Lyall's Victoria Cross, together with his campaign medals from the First and Second World Wars was loaned to the REME Museum of Technology in Arborfield, Berkshire, on the wishes of his widow.