Abraham & Prudence Lloyd were living at 55 Church Street, Connah’s Quay Flintshire with their children on the 1901 census. Abraham, 40, was a Grave Digger who had been born in Northop Parish, Flintshire. His wife, Prudence 32 had been born in Connah’s Quay as had all the rest of the family. The children listed were Margaret 10, Joseph J 8, David J. 6, Abraham 4 and Eleanor was 1.
By the 1911 census their family had grown and they were living at 3 Golftyn Lane, Connah’s Quay. Abraham 50, was a Sexton with the Burial Board. Prudence, his wife of 21 years was 42 . Seven children had been born and all survived. Those listed were Joseph John 18 and a ‘Street Packer’. David James 16, was a School Student. Abraham14 was a ‘Worker in the Paper Mill’. Eleanor 11 and Robert William 8 were at school. Thomas was 3.
David was a pupil at the Hawarden County School, and was named on the School Roll of Honour.
Flintshire Observer on the 7th October 1915
Connah’s Quay Hero. Experiences in a Dug-Out, – Interesting extract from Diary
When war broke out the three sons of Mr Abraham Lloyd, River View, Church Street, Connah’s Quay, enlisted in His Majesty’s Forces. The eldest was afterwards discharged a medically unfit, the second, Lce-Corporal D.J.Lloyd – had died of wounds, while the third son, aged 18, lies ill at Malta. The Late Lance-Corporal Lloyd was in the 8th Battalin Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He was a pupil of Hawarden County School for five years, and afterwards held the post of pupil teacher for a period. He was an able young and was held in high regard. The following is an extract from a diary which was kept by Lance-Corporal Lloyd while he was serving in Gallipoli –
” 26th July 1915. Gallipoli Peninsula. We are having a fine time to-day. There is a storm on – I mean a shrapnel storm – also a plague of flies. And still I think I am as happy as it is possible for a human being to be in this vale of tears. Owing to the shrapnel storm – pleasantly interspersed with high explosive shells, which make holes big enough to put a tramcar into – owing to this, I say, I have gone to ground like a rabbit, whereby I evade the shells and some of the dust. But while I am in this position evading dust and shell the bally flies are absolutely eating me wholesale. Flies like dug-outs, and as for Jam – not a word! ……… The fellows out here have achieved a military feat about as dramatic and heroic as any ever recorded in the annals of the British Army. The conditions out here are much more severe. We are under fire all the time. No “safety places” in the rear. From the men in the front line of the trenches to those on the landing beaches we are every one of us under artillery or rifle fire or both”.
Lance-Corporal Lloyd always had a cheery word and smile for all, and died as hew lived – smiling. Among his possessions was an Australian two-shilling piece, which was given him as a memento by an Australian officer for saving his life. The original is now in Mr. Abraham Lloyd’s possession.
Death of a Connah’s Quay Soldier after fighting in Gallipoli – Military Funeral. – Yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon there were consigned to their last resting place in the Cemetery, Connah’s Quay, the remains of the late Lance-Corporal David James LLOYD, who was 21 years of age, and the son of Mr. & Mrs. Abraham LLOYD, of 143, High Street, Connah’s Quay. The deceased had been an Ironworker at the Hawarden Bridge Works, and he joined the 8th Batt. of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He was wounded in the recent fighting at Gallipoli, as was his brother, both being conveyed to one of the Hospitals in Malta. The Lance-Corporal was eventually sent to England and arrived at the Splott Road Military Hospital, Cardiff, on the 30th August, and where he died on September 2nd. Deceased was accorded military honours, and there was a large attendance at the obsequies, over which the Rev. Canon Lieutenant-Colonel Chaplain W. Ll. Nicholas officiated at the St. Mark’s Church where a service was held.
David is mentioned in the book ” Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1918 Royal Welsh Fusiliers Volume 28″. It confirms the regimental details above and adds that he enlisted in Shotton. This source tells us that he ‘Died of Wounds’ at home (which meant in the UK) on the 2nd September 1915
David’s medal card accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk, records his medal details and also tells us that his first theatre of war was the Balkans and that he entered it on 28th June 1915. In just over 2 months David James was dead.
David James Lloyd in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 tells us that he died on the 2nd September 1915 in the 3rd Western General Hospital from Wounds and Dysentery. It also tells us that the Joint Legatees were his parents, Abraham & Prudence who were paid £4. 18s 7d on the 11th February 1916 and his War Gratuity of £3. 10s 0d on the 20th August 1919.
There is an index card for David James Lloyd in The Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record office in Hawarden. It confirms his regimental details and adds that he was wounded on the 6th August 1915 in Gallipoli and died in Splot Hospital Cardiff on the 2nd September 1915. He served for 1 year and 14 days. The card was signed by his mother Prudence Lloyd on 20th September 1919.
(David J Lloyd’s death was registered September 1915 – Lloyd David J. 21 Cardiff 11a 308).
(Monumental Inscriptions – Connah;s Quay Cemetery. Book. Volume 1 See Page 43).
David James Lloyd is named on the Memorial Plaque in St.Mark’s Church, Connah’s Quay.
Addendum – If you would like a copy of the War Diaries for the 8th Bn R.W.F. please contact the website or they can be seen on Ancestry.co.uk.
I found recently a copy of the Flintshire Observer & News, (see below) which tells much more of David’s character, this was taken from a diary he kept and is a wonderful insight into how brave he was, still joking in all that trauma.
