Victor LYONS preyed on the Australian public who would never question his impeccable credentials of being a Changi POW and he has managed to bask in that acclaim for over forty years.  Victor Edward George LYONS, Service Number 164774, enlisted in the RAAF in Sydney NSW on 18 July 1944, having turned 18 just over a week earlier on 9 July 1944.   He was initially enlisted as a Trainee Tech on the basis of 18 months prior experience as an assistant motor cycle mechanic working for Mr R.G. Thwaite’s Boomerang Garage at Auburn, a Sydney suburb.

His service records show that after trade testing he was re-mustered as a Steward. He was later trained as a Cook in 1945. He was demobilised in Darwin on 20 June 1946. His trade classification at discharge was cook and he had achieved the rank of Leading Aircraftsman.

His medal entitlement was the 1939-45 War Medal. His records clearly show that he never served outside Australia.

At some stage following his discharge from the RAAF in 1946, Victor LYONS became a Changi POW survivor, attracting all the kudos and reverence from his family and friends that such sacrifice and service for his country deserved. Friends spoke of him in glowing terms and without exception, with immense respect, mindful of the ordeals and trauma that he had allegedly suffered during his supposed internment as a POW in Changi. 

Victor Lyons is an accomplished liar.   Some examples of this dubious quality follow: 

He began his service as a 15 year old air gunner in Wellingtons in England and then served with the 5th U.S. Air Force Liberators in the Pacific. (This story was supported by photographs of similar aircraft displayed on his TV room wall)

He was shot down 3 times and ended up a POW on the Emperor’s Railway in Singapore. He flew at least 28 mission over the Pacific/New Guinea/Gulf of Carpentaria areas, crashing a few times.

He had his stomach removed following being shot down.  He now has a plastic stomach and requires special dietary attention. He claimed to have been shipwrecked and picked up by a Japanese patrol boat and subsequently interned in Changi.

He claims to have murdered a Formosan guard prior to his release from Changi. The guard was known as “Boy Bastard”. (Bryce Courtenay’s characterisation of the Sandakan death marches in his novel “Four Fires” includes a Formosan guard employed by the Japanese who was also coincidentally called “Boy Bastard”)

He claimed to have suffered continuous ill-treatment at the hands of the Japanese. He claims he cannot have children because of the war injuries inflicted by the Japanese.

 He claims to have enlisted under different names. Victor Lyons shows visitors a book entitled “More Lives Than A Cat - Three and a Half Years as a Prisoner of War of the Japanese” by Guy Baker. A photograph on page 337 depicts a very emaciated man.  The photograph has printed underneath it the words; “This is how many men looked when they returned to Changi from the Burma Thailand Railway”. Victor LYONS has written beside the photograph in his own hand; “Victor Lyons 20 years of age weighing 7 stone It was in this condition that I killed The Boy Bastard & was charged with murder”

He claimed that scarring on his legs was caused by Japanese guards using bayonets. (His enlistment medical report states: scars underside lower right thigh, scars right and left patellae, scars rear left leg and shin)

He claims to suffer frequent dreadful nightmares relating to his time spent as a POW, but in light of the CPMH research that has disclosed his actual service record, perhaps this is just the effects of a guilty conscience.

He claims that his war medals were stolen. He claims that his dishonourable discharge prevents him from receiving a gold card that would assist him with the cost of operations for injuries caused by his ill-treatment in Changi.

Victor Lyon's make believe world began to crumble several years ago. He required an operation to repair knee damage, supposedly a war injury. Friends and relatives suggested he should apply for a Gold Card to assist with the cost of the operation. His continued refusal raised suspicions about his war service.

He claimed he may be arrested for murder for killing a Formosan guard “Boy Bastard” if he made a claim for benefits and his whereabouts became known to the government. He also claimed at this time that he had received the $25,000.00 compensation paid to all WW2 prisoners of war. (So apparently the government knew where he could be found after all)

Victor Lyon’s shabby charade was finally exposed when an attempt was made to locate old comrades who might attend his surprise 80th birthday party. A letter was forwarded to the ex- POW Association magazine Barbed Wire and Bamboo, requesting help to provide information and to try to locate friends. A couple of replies along the lines of “Who’s been having you on?” prompted a search for Victor Lyons military records.

When the records were made available it was obvious that this parasite has for over 40 years been fraudulently obtaining friendships and respect to which he has absolutely no lawful or moral entitlement.

Victor Lyons full record of service breaks down to simply the following:

Service Record
Name    LYONS, VICTOR EDWARD GEORGE 
Service    Royal Australian Air Force 
Service Number    164774 
Date of Birth    9 Jul 1926
Place of Birth    DARLINGHURST, NSW
Date of Enlistment    18 Jul 1944 
Locality on Enlistment    NORTH AUBURN, NSW 
Place of Enlistment    SYDNEY, NSW 
Next of Kin    LYONS, THOMAS  
Date of Discharge    20 Jun 1946
Rank    Leading Aircraftman 
Posting at Discharge    DARWIN 
WW2 Honours and Gallantry    None for display
Prisoner of War    No

When we remember the wonderful examples of courage, humility, and perseverance exhibited by Weary Dunlop and his POW comrades, it is patently obvious that Victor Edward George LYONS is not fit to carry out the stinking slops buckets from their huts in Changi prison.

The comment below sent in by one of our readers who wishes to remain anonymous:

I have stood in the war cemeteries in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, Sandakan, Borneo and Kranji, Singapore, seen the endless rows of headstones of those that died at the hands of of the Japs, shed a tear for all the young lives lost and given thanks  that some tough and hardy souls made it home to Australia. Those survivors have aways had my, and the Australian community's, highest respect and honour.