Roll of Honor
Incident
On Friday 2nd December 1921, an RIC patrol passing along Bishop Street, Derry, noticed two men acting suspiciously in Bennett Street. The men fled and the patrol entered Derry Gaol where they discovered Special Constable Lyttle, manacled with his own handcuffs, and Constable Michael Gorman, tied with a rope. Cotton wool pads soaked in liquid were found nearby and it was thought that both Constables had been rendered unconscious with Chloroform but it was determined to be poison and both officers were dead.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-GB-USC-7DB8461D- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 8, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Constable Lyttle served with the Ulster Special Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Constable Lyttle.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Constable William Lyttle is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NIR, 422 of 599 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.5% of this state's fallen. That is 16.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Ulster Special Constabulary, 56 of 99 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Lyttle's cause is highlighted.
How William Lyttle Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Lyttle is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
98 officers from Ulster Special Constabulary are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
