Corporal Albert Lyttle M.M. served in 6th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, and features in a famous photo overlooking Centuripe in the Italian campaign.
Corporal
7015490
Corporal Albert Lyttle (7015490) served in 6th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers during the Second World War. He was the husband of Margaret “Peggy” Lyttle of 6 James Street, Portadown, Co. Armagh. The couple had two young children; Olive Lyttle and Ronnie Lyttle. Albert’s brother Lance Bombardier Tommy Lyttle saw action at Dunkirk with the Royal Artillery, while another brother served in the Ulster Home Guard.
Lyttle was a recipient of the Military Medal, awarded on 23rd March 1944. The recommendation signed by General Harold R. Alexander, General Bernard Law Montgomery, Lieutenant General Charles Allfrey, Major General Charles Keightley, Brigadier Nelson Russell, and Lieutenant Colonel B.L. Bryar reads:
On 29 Nov 1943, during the attack by 6 Innisks on R. Li Colli a platoon of C Coy was being held up by an enemy post occupying a house. Cpl. Lyttle with complete disregard to his personal safety made his way to the house by himself, and then rushed at it firing his T.S.M.C. from the hip. He succeeding in killing one and wounding two of the enemy thus causing the post to surrender. By this vigorous and decisive action the further advance of his platoon was able to continue and valuable lives were saved. This N.C.O. has shown outstanding powers of leadership and initiative both during the Italian and the Sicilian campaigns.
This 22 year old soldier has been awarded the Military Medal. He is a member of a family which has an excellent military record. He joined up in 1939 and was formerly with the Royal Ulster Rifles and Royal Irish Fusiliers. He served in North Africa and was one of the first into Sicily. Latest news to hand is that he is serving with the Inniskillings in Italy.
Corporal Lyttle died on 8th April 1944 aged 23 years old. His grave is in Section III, Row B, Grave 22 of Cassino War Cemetery, Italy. His name is on the Portadown War Memorial and the Seagoe Church of Ireland War Memorial, Portadown, Co. Armagh. His headstone bears the inscription:
To his memory my heart will cling.
In January 1945, Mrs. Margaret “Peggy” Lyttle received notice that she would receive the Military Medal in person on her husband’s behalf. Corporal Albert Lyttle M.M. was a brother-in-law of Trooper James Taylor Tweedie.
