Full medal write up
BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDAL 'LIEUT C B E LLOYD RAF', REGIMENTAL PRIZE MEDAL ENGRAVED ‘CORPL B E LLOYD 2ND WORC REGT’, REVERSE ‘8th RES INF BDE BOVINGTON CAMP MAY 24TH 1916 BAYONET FIGHTING, MIDDLESEX REGIMENT PRIZE MEDAL, UNINSCRIBED
BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDAL 'LIEUT W M E LLOYD’.
Lieutenant Charles Byron Ellis Lloyd was born on 12 September 1896 in Kings Norton, Worcestershire. Enlisting into the Ranks of the Worcestershire Regiment on 8 December 1915, he was Commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps in April 1917. Qualifying as a Pilot on 7 September 1917. After training he was posted to the newly formed 85 Squadron on 7 September 1917 and then to 110 Squadron on 18 November that year. Just formed Rencomb at the beginning of November 1917, 110 Squadron was a initially equipped with BE2c’s and DH4’s before being the first squadron reequipped with the new DH9a’s. Operating on Home duties, the Squadron joined the Independent Air Force on bombing missions in France on 31 August 1918:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Air_Force
On 25 September, 12 DH9’s of 110 Squadron took off to bomb the railways and factories at Frankfurt; Lloyd and his Observer, 2nd Lieut Henry James Cecil Elwig, in D.H.9A E9660. Before the squadron reached Frankfurt, they lost one DH9a shot down and reaching the south of Frankfurt they met enemy aircraft of Kest 1b and Kest 9 but continued and dropped their bombs and then headed home.
Shortly after, Lloyd’s aircraft was attacked by three enemy fighter and although they shot one down fighter, their aileron controls were shot away and they then ran out of fuel and crashed in the Vosges. After crash-landing they burned their aircraft and tried to reach the lines, but 2 days later, due to exhaustion they surrendered to two German soldiers. Lloyd’s aircraft was claimed by Leutnant Keisze of Kest 1b. See the following from extracted from ‘The Aerodrome’:
Remaining Prisoner of War until repatriated on 13 December 1918, Lloyd was transferred to the unemployed list on 25 February 1919.
Lieutenant William Merrick Ellis Lloyd was born on 21 January 1894 in Edgbaston and was educated Radley College. Employed Daimler Co. Ltd, he enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery in 1915 as a gunner (no.126853) and was later Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant. Entering the French Theatre of War on 31 March 1916, he served with 40th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery but was killed in action at Hauer, Battle of Arras on the 19 May 1917. He is buried at Faubourg D'amiens Cemetery, Arras, France.
The brothers were the sons of Hannah M. U. Allen (formerly Lloyd), of Asleton House, 69, Compton Road., Wolverhampton, and the late William Ellis Lloyd. Both Brothers were entitled to the BW and Victory pair.
IN ADDITION TO THE MEDALS THE GROUP CONSISTS OF:
1) A fine Silver cigarette case presented to Lloyd in 1923 and given by his Observer , presumably a gift after release as POW’s. Lloyd’s initials to front of case, inside is a finely engraved dedication ‘C.B.E. LLOYD FROM HIS OBSERVER NO110 SQUADRON INDEPENDENT AIR FORCE FRANCE 1918 JUNE 6TH 1923’ Various hallmarks etc
2) Silver matchbox cover with finely engraved with RFC wings and to reverse ‘C.B.E. LLOYD FROM MRS M LLOYD 1917’
3) RFC Pilot Wings these with very heavy wear, likely what he was wearing as a POW
4) 1918 RAF Pilot Wings showing signs of removal from uniform
5) Lloyds dog tags
6) RFC Officers cap badge by Gaunt, another converted to pin back
7) 2 x RFC Officer collar badges, one by Gaunt
8) 3 x RFC buttons, rank pip, Middlesex Ret and RHA shoulder titles
9) RAF sweetheart brooch
10) 16 original postcard photographs taken when a POW 1918, these include 7 fantastic group shots of captured pilots and observers, most named, signatures etc. Also a number of shots of POW camps and several of his initial training
11) 4 interesting Censor opened letters sent from the POW camp
12) 8 Red Cross and Feldpost POW Cards plus a number uninscribed and German envelopes
13) Letter to his mother reporting him as a POW, dated 18/11/18
14) 2 Telegraphs to his mother informing her he was on his way home
15) Various RFC and RAF documents 1917-19, including RFC graduation, demobilisation, Buckingham Palace POW release letter etc.
16) Wrist worn compass, this isn’t the Officially issued heavy compass issued to pilots but appears to be a privately purchased slimmer example. Appears to be in working condition
Condition of the medals is GVF.
A really very fine and complete group to brothers, the vast majority being of RFC/RAF interest.