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William Edward Lloyd
678619, Private, 116th Canadian Infantry
Killed in action, 28 August 1917, aged 33
Buried at Aix-Noulette Communal Cemetery Extension, France
CWGC registered (Eldest son of Peter Lloyd, of “Seabright”, Deganwy Avenue, Llandudno, North Wales; husband of Helen Lloyd, of 833, Gladstone Avenue, Toronto, Canada)
THIS BE THY RECORD WHERE IN PEACE THOU LIEST
William Edward Lloyd, the son of Peter Lloyd and Sarah Elizabeth Lloyd (née Jones) was born in Manchester on 11 December 1883. At the time of his parents’ wedding in Manchester on 2 March 1883, his father was described as a collier but by 1891, his father was a general labourer and the family lived at “Penbellan”, close to Gloddaeth Hall (St. David’s College), the home of Lady Augusta Mostyn and her 11 servants. The Census of Wales for 1901 records the family living at 9 Mostyn Street, Llandudno – William (17) was described as a stone cutter. William had three younger brothers: David Jones Lloyd (12), John Lloyd (11) and James Thomas Lloyd (8). Ten years later the family lived at “Seabright”, Deganwy Avenue, Llandudno – William was then described as a stonemason.
On 28 April 1912, William disembarked at Halifax, Nova Scotia having sailed from Liverpool – his stated destination was Toronto. And it was at Toronto four days later where he married Ellen (Nelly) Anderson (b Edinburgh, 10 February 1888) though on his affidavit he stated that he had lived in the city since 16 April. There was good reason for this urgency for their daughter Margaret Ann was born on 18 May 1912. A son William Edward Ronald Lloyd was born on 21 November 1913 and another daughter, Elizabeth Helen Lloyd was born in 1915.
On 24 January 1916, William volunteered to join the Canadian Army. He gave his address as 14 Greary Avenue, Toronto and stated that he had served in the 109th Regiment of the Active Militia for three months. It was the 109th Regiment that recruited men for the 169th Overseas Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the winter of 1915/1916 in Toronto. The 169th sailed to England in October 1916 but it was absorbed into the 5th Canadian Reserve Battalion (Central Ontario) on 5 January 1917. At a date unknown, William was transferred to the 116th Canadian Infantry. The 116th Battalion (Ontario County) CEF had formed in December 1915 and embarked for England in July 1916. Some troops were used to reinforce other units but on 11 February 1917 it disembarked in France fighting with the 9th Infantry Brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division.
William Edward Lloyd was killed in action on 28 August 1917 aged 33. The battalion’s war diary for that day records the battalion being near Lens, supplying working parties for trench digging and carrying water and ammunition to the front-line; four soldiers were killed that day. The Toronto press noted that his wife and three children lived at 247 Bartlett Avenue and that one of his brothers (John) had recently returned to London, Ontario after being twice wounded and that his brothers David and James were serving in France with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Ellen Lloyd’s address was later noted as 833 Gladstone Avenue, Toronto – she died of appendicitis and bowel obstruction in 1926. Her three children died in 1995, 1937 and 2006.
Known memorials:
- Llandudno Roll of Honour
- Llandudno War Memorial
- Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
- Canadian Book of Remembrance
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