Owen Lloyd was born about 1881 in Denbigh, Denbighshire. He was the 2nd son of Thomas & Maria Lloyd who I believe were married at Denbigh at St. Hilary’s Church on 3rd June 1871 Thomas’s bride was Maria Gough Hughes. They were living in Henllan on the 1881 census at 11, Bryntirion Terrace.
The 1891 census records the family living at 5, Mold Junction, Saltney, Flintshire, Thomas Lloyd, 39 was a Railway Engine Driver who had been born in St. Asaph, Denbighshire. His wife Maria, 40 had been born in Denbigh. Their listed children were Annie 17, a ‘Shoe Finisher’, Thomas 15 an Engine Cleaner, Kate 14, Emily 11, Owen 10, Agnes, 7 and Mabel, 5.
Owen becomes a little elusive from this point. It has not proved possible to find him on the 1901 census. According to his index card in The Flintshire Roll of Honour, his wife Mary Eliza Lloyd stated that he had served through the Boer War. This would explain his absence from the 1901 census.
The 1911 census records Owen Lloyd aged 33 and his wife Mary E Lloyd, living at 13 Rose Terrace Sandycroft in the Parish of West Saltney. He was a ‘Motor attendant’.
His military details are confusing but as an experienced soldier he would have been called up to WW1 early in the conflict. His rank of sergeant is also a clue about his experience.
UK Soldiers who Died in The Great War 1914 -19 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk , lists an Owen Lloyd who had been born in Chester and who died ‘at home’ on the 3rd July 1918. It says he was Sergeant 11957 in the 14th battalion of The Cheshire Regiment.
There is an index card for Owen Lloyd in The Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record office in Hawarden. It had been completed and signed on the 6th November 1919 by Mary Eliza Lloyd, his wife.(Card Saltney Ferry F19). She stated that Owen had ” Served through Boer War with 1st Bn R.W.F. and had been wounded twice”. She wrote on the card that he had died on 3rd July 1918 in a Military Hospital in Great Yarmouth. She also stated that his Regimental No. was 3/8210 in the 51 Grad. Batt. Manchester Regiment where he had been Pioneer Sgt. He had served from 10th October 1914 to the 3rd July 1918.
There is much in these accounts that is the same but there are significant differences. He had a very long military career through turbulent times and perhaps there is truth in all of it. Perhaps he did serve in The Royal Welsh Fusiliers, The Cheshire Regiment and the Manchester Regiment. Can anyone help?
Great Yarmouth Military Hospital had 57 beds for ‘Other/Ranks’ and was affiliated to the Woolwich Royal Herbert Military Hospital.
I have further information about military hospitals if you contact me via the website.
Owen Lloyd is also named on the Rhyl Memorial