Jack Lyon

William John Lyon (15 February 1898 – 26 May 1941) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. He was killed in World War II while serving with the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

Early life and career Lyon was born in London, England, and educated at a Brighton Grammar School. He won a scholarship to the University of Oxford, but did not take it up as he enlisted in the British Army aged 17. During World War I, while serving on the western front, he was twice mentioned in dispatches and his health was damaged by mustard gas. He was promoted to a non-commissioned officer and later was an officer in the Royal Sussex Regiment and military intelligence.

After leaving the military he worked as a linguist and cypher translator at the Foreign Office.

Local politics Lyon was active in the UK Labour Party. As a member of the Mitcham branch he was a party organiser in the 1921 local elections and 1924 general election.

Due to his health, still impaired by the mustard gas attack, he emigrated to New Zealand in 1927 where he lived in Hastings gaining work as a rubber vulcaniser. Lyon joined the Labour Party in 1928 and was elected a member of the Hastings Borough Council and Napier Harbour Board in 1929 before moving to Auckland in 1931.

In Auckland he became president of the Auckland Provincial Unemployed Workers' Association and president of the Auckland Association Football Association. In 1935 he stood unsuccessfully for the Auckland City Council on a Labour Party ticket.

Member of Parliament

Lyon contested the Hawkes Bay electorate in the , but was beaten by the incumbent, Hugh Campbell of the Reform Party. The by-election resulted in the return of the third woman to the New Zealand House of Representatives, Labour's Mary Dreaver. His widow Alison considered but, after receiving medical advice, opted not to accept nomination to stand for the seat.