Pte 202854 Robert Lloyd

• Age: 41
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Robert Lloyd and his twin brother George were born on the 02nd April 1876 in Liverpool and was the son of George and Rosannah (née Lyness) Lloyd who were married on the 09th January 1859 at St. Chrysostom, Everton. George was a joiner of 24 Hygeia St, father Charles, whilst Rosannah was of 26 Gregson St., father Joseph. He was baptised with his twin brother at St Matthew's, Church of England, Liverpool  on the 07th May 1876.

The 1881 Census shows the family living at 1 Georges Terrace, Everton. His father, George, is aged 44, a joiner born in Liverpool, his mother, Roseanna, is aged 44 born in Belfast. Their four children were all born in Liverpool: Amy 7, twins George and Robert 5, Sarah Ann 3.

His father died, aged 52, in 1890 and was buried on the 16th July at Everton Cemetery.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at 24 Illiad Street, Everton.  His widowed mother, Rose A., is aged 54. She has four children at home; Amy 17, a paper folder, George 15, an apprentice bookbinder, Robert 15, a paper ruler, and Sarah Ann 13, at school. 

The 1901 Census shows Robert living with his brother George at 5, Tillotson Street, West Derby, Liverpool. George is aged 24, born 1877 and employed as a bookbinder who was born in Liverpool. Robert is aged 24, born 1877 and employed as a paper ruler and his sister Sarah aged 23, born 1878 has no occupation. Their married mother Rose A. Edwards is aged 64, born 1837 in Ireland, Andrew is not present.

Robert married Edith Chandler on the 03rd February 1902 at St Mary, Edge Hill. He was a 26 year old paper ruler, his father George (deceased), Edith was 21, father Robert, a porter. They gave their address as 5 Tillotson Street.

His mother remarried to Andrew Edwards on the 06th June 1892 at St Mary's Church, Kirkdale.

The 1911 Census shows Robert living at his mother-in-law's address at 4 Fitzclarence Street, Everton, Liverpool. His mother Sarah Chandler is a widow aged 51, born 1860 occupation boarding house keeper who was born in Birkenhead. She has four children living her, Eliza Ann aged 32, born 1879 and Maria aged 24, born 1887 both employed as weigher’s for a tobacco company, Walter aged 19, born 1892 is an apprentice paper ruler for a stationery company and Ethel Louisa aged 12, born 1899 . Robert is aged 35, born 1876 is employed as a paper ruler, his wife Edith is aged 31, born 1880 and has no occupation listed and they have been married for nine years and have had two children of which one had died. Their daughter Edith Ethel is aged 8, born 1903 is at school. All the family members were born in Liverpool. At the time of the 1911 Census, Sarah had five boarders living at her address, John Roberts aged 34, born 1877 a commercial traveller who was born in Manchester, his wife Norah aged 23, born 1888 no occupation who was born in Bradford, Mary Essey aged 43, born 1868, no occupation who was born in Chester, Elizabeth Daniels aged 17, born 1894 in Birkenhead and living by private means and  Lewis Lyons aged 18, born 1893 in Russia and employed as a tailor.

Meanwhile his mother Rosannah, aged 64, and sister Sarah Ann 33 are living with married sister Amy Fairclough 37 and family at 45 Tattersall Rd, Litherland.

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 202854 when he was killed in action on the 31st July 1917, aged 41, during the Third Battle of Ypres.

18^th Battalion

On this day, before Zero Hour, the 18^th Battalion was part of 21^st Brigade and was to form up for the attack from trenches from the area of Sanctuary Wood to Observatory Ridge but it was dark and continually falling rain gave very poor visibility. The departure of the 21^st Brigade was delayed by heavy shelling.

The 18^th King’s began to move forward in the rear of the 2^nd Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment who had been detailed as the left attacking battalion of the 21^st Brigade.

No’s 1 and 3 Companies of the King’s led the way followed by No’s 2 and 4. In Sanctuary Wood there was considerable confusion, as a result No.2 and No.4 Companies became separated from the others, and were moved over to the left flank towards positions known as Surbiton Villas and Clapham Junction in the direction of the 90^th Brigade.

No.1 and 3 Companies were soon in action with the enemy, and were for a time, held up against an enemy strong point. They pushed forward with their right on a trench known as Jar Row and their left on the tramway south of Stirling Castle. Advance along Jar Row was held up by the Germans who put up a fierce resistance and the party was forced to withdraw.

Another group of men from No.1 and No.3 Companies led by 2^nd Lieutenant Graham were being held up by another strongpoint which was south of Stirling Castle, which was eventually stormed and taken.  Not far away from this action,  an attempt, by other men of No.1 and No.3 companies, was made to penetrate a broad belt of uncut wire, but this was covered by Machine-guns which killed almost every man attempting to pass through the two gaps that were discovered.

The situation was similar with No.2 and 4 Companies, who had attacked along the wrong axis. Their advance was met with fierce opposition, and once all the experienced officer’s had been killed or wounded, all cohesion was lost, although some men did reach and cross the Menin Road at Clapham Junction.

By that time, the situation had become extremely confused, and the whereabouts of all four companies being unknown to Battalion Headquarters, urgent attempts were made to discover their locations. Eventually by mid- afternoon, it was established that the bulk of the companies, although all mixed together, were dug in the vicinity of Stirling Castle and by mid evening, the Battalion Headquarters moved forward to meet them.

During its time in the line the 18^th Battalion lost 7 officers and 76 men killed or died of wounds and 7 officers and 177 men wounded. They were relieved on the 2^nd August.

He was listed as missing in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 03 November 1917:

Missing Friends.

Soldiers.

Pte Robert Lloyd, King's (Liverpool Regiment) who joined the colours of February 28th, 1917, went to France in June, and was posted as missing on July 31st. Any information will be very thankfully received by his wife at 6 Fitzclarence Street, Everton, Liverpool.

His death was announced in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 25 May 1918:

FALLEN HEROES.

Private R. Lloyd, K.L.R., who was reported missing on July 31st, 1917, is now officially reported as killed in action. He leaves a widow and children who reside at 6 Fitzclarence Street, Everton, Liverpool. 

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927. 

He was remembered by his family on the first anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Evening Express on Wednesday 31 July 1918:

ROLL OF HONOUR.

LLOYD— In sad but loving memory of Rifleman Robert Lloyd, devoted husband of Edith Lloyd, 6 Fitzclarence-street, Everton, killed 31, 1917. 

All these long, sad months of hope and fear,

Are now my only hope, my life, my all,

Lies in an unknown grave somewhere in France.

Oh, God, how mysterious are Thy ways,

To take him, my all, in the best of our days. 

When all alone in sorrow the bitterest tears flow,

There stealeth a dream of sweet long ago; 

And unknown to the world he stands by my side

And whispers, “God bless you dear Ede, death cannot divide, never for one moment.” 

- Never forgotten by his broken-hearted wife, daughter and two little sons.

LLOYD— In ever-loving memory of Robert Lloyd, 6 Fitzclarence-street, killed in action July 31, 1917. (K.L.R.)

Oh how we miss you, brother dear,

It is sweet to breath your name;

In life we loved you dear,

In death we do the same.

- From his sisters-in-law, Lilly and Marie, and brother-in-law Sydney, 4 Fitzclarence Street.

LLOYD— In ever-loving memory of Robert Lloyd, 6 Fitzclarence-street, killed in action July 31, 1917. (K.L.R.)

Could we have raised his dying hand  

Or heard his last farewell

The blow would not have been so hard

To those who loved him well.

— Never forgotten by his mother-in-law, sister-in law, and brother-in-law, Walter, Ethel, and Mrs Chandler, 4 Fitzclarence-street. 

He was remembered by his family on the second anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 09 August 1919:

ROLL OF HONOUR.

LLOYD— ln sad but loving memory of Private Robert Lloyd, the dearly loved husband of Edith Lloyd, 6, Fitzclarence-street, Everton, killed in action July 31, 1917, (Deeply mourned and sadly missed by his ever sorrowing wife, daughter, and two little boys.)

Deep in my heart lies a picture  

Of my loved one called to rest,

And in memory's frame I will keep it 

Till God wills us meet again.  

Deep in my heart, firm and fast,

Live golden memories of our past.  

But a mist comes through the blinding rain,  

And life can never be the same again.  

LLOYD— ln sad but loving memory of our dear brother, Private R. Lloyd. King’s (Liverpool Regt.), fell in action July 31, 1917. (Never forgotten by his loving mother-in-law, Mrs. Chandler, Walter, Lilly, Ethel, 4, Fitzclarence-st., Everton;  also Sidney and Marie Watson, 55, Eastbourne-st., Everton.) 

Never a day but his name is spoken,

Never an hour but he's in our thoughts; 

A link in our family chain is broken,

He has gone from our home, but not from our hearts.

He earned his two medals. 

Soldiers Effects, Army Pay of £2 9s 5d, £3 War Gratuity and Pension to widow Edith and children Edith Ethel, Robert Walter and George Sydney.

On the 1921 Census at 11 Georges Terrace, Everton, mother Rose Ann Edwards is aged 84, born Belfast, and is living with daughter-in-law Mona Rose Phillips and family.

His mother, Sarah, died aged 91, in 1928.

His widow, Edith, never remarried and died, aged 79, in 1959.

Probate:-

LLOYD  Edith of 20 Borella Road Liverpool 13 widow died 29 July 1959 Administration Liverpool 2 September to Edith Ethel Taylor (wife of David James Taylor). Effects £245 9s. 

We currently have no further information on Robert Lloyd, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.