Lyle was born in 1893 in Majorca, Victoria, Australia, the fourth of 10 children born to Henry and Mary Hopper (nee Miller). Before joining up he was working as a bricklayer.
He joined the Australian Infantry on 28 August 1914, aged 21 years old. His Attestation Papers tell us he was 5ft 7 and a half inches tall and weighed 154lbs (11st). He had brown hair and grey eyes and was of a fair complexion.
Lyle embarked for Military service from Melbourne on 19 October 1914 on board the HMAT Benalla. (George Fenwick was also on board).
19 October 1914: Men of the 2nd Australian Infantry Brigade walking down the Port Melbourne pier to embark on HMAT Benalla (A24) (right), and HMAT Hororata (A20) (left), for service overseas. Australian War Memorial ID number C02793 retrieved from http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C02793/
The Service Records reveal a number of periods of illness (mainly due to diarrhea and dysentery), and they record that Lyle was wounded in action on 20 September 1917. He received gunshot wounds to the face and right leg (which was fractured) and was transferred to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Siding to be treated. He died later that day from his wounds aged just 24 years.
Among Lyle’s effects returned to his mother (in accordance with his will) were 2 New Testaments, a Book of St Mark, a pouch and a jack knife.
