These are the personal papers of Commandant John Lyons (1860-1940).
The collection comprises a scrapbook compiled by Lyons mainly relating to Ceylon, his diary for 1893 and copy prints of photographs relating to Lyons.
The papers are arranged as follows:
Born 3 February 1860 in Donegal, John Lyons became a Salvation Army officer from Liverpool 2 corps in 1885. After several appointments in the British Field he sailed for India on 18 August 1886 where he took the name Dev Kumar. He was then appointed to Ceylon in September 1888, where he married Captain Mary Gray on 25 April 1889. He returned to England with his "health broken" on 29 November 1893 and took up several more appointments at corps in the British Territory. He retired from the British Territory and was promoted to Glory from Harlesden 19 January 1940. In 1945 The Salvation Army published 'Lyons in the Jungle' by Arch Wiggins about the life of John Lyons.
Open for research. The reading room of The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre is open Tue-Fri 9.30-4.00. It is advisable to make an appointment. Tel: 0207 326 7800; email: heritage@salvationarmy.org.uk .
