Lt-Colonel Ivan Lyon, DSO, MBE

Was in the Gordon Highlanders, he became a member of SOE's Oriental Mission based in Australia. The eldest son of Brigadier-General Francis Lyon, he was educated at Harrow and Sandhurst.

Lyons had set to avenge the capture of his wife and baby son by the Japanese.

On the 1st September 1943 a small fishing boat called ,"The Krait" set sail on a long journey that was to see at its end, the first raid since Britain lost the Island Fortress of Singapore. It would be a round trip from Australia to Singapore via the Islands of Sumatra and back of some 4,000 miles.

It was a raid that destroyed 37,000 tons of enemy shipping in Singapore harbour and took the war right into to a Japanese held country.

Lyons set off from his base at Exmouth Gulf in Australia on the morning of the 1st September 1943. He was to arrive just outside Singapore harbour on the 16th September 1943, they spent the time observing the comings and goings of the ships.

Lyons and a team of 5 Officers in 3 canoes went in on the night of the 26th.