Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front 1918’ D.S.O. and M.C. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel R. C. Lloyd, commanding 1/1st Denbigh Yeomanry, later re-designated as 24th (Denbighshire Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. R. C. Lloyd.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Capt. R. C. Lloyd. Denbigh Yeo.); Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1919, the last five mounted as worn and contained in a contemporary fitted glazed display case with the D.S.O. still on its original integral ribbon brooch, obverse centre depressed on the D.S.O., otherwise good very fine, the TFWM rare to unit (6) £3,600-£4,400

D.S.O. London Gazette 2 April 1919; citation published 10 December 1919: ‘Captain (acting Major) Roderick Croil Lloyd, M.C., 1/1st Denbigh Yeomanry, attached 24th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
During the successful operations of 31st October 1918, in the vicinity of Tieghem, he showed great gallantry and able leadership in command of his Battalion. At one period of the operations he went forward to the leading Company Commander, and with him so effectively reorganised the Company under heavy fire that he was able to order it forward to the attack on the second objective. He then found the supporting Company, who had lost direction, reorganised it and placed it in position’.

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1919: ‘Captain (acting Major), 1/1st Denbigh Yeomanry.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 12 January 1918 (Egypt) and 5 July 1919 (France).

Roderick Croil Lloyd was born in Flint, Mold, on 3 July 1885, the son of Major Edward Lloyd and his wife Ethel Mary. Educated at Cheltenham College, he was first commissioned in the Denbighshire Hussars Yeomanry as Second Lieutenant on 30 August 1902; Lieutenant, 1 April 1908; Lieutenant, Denbigh Yeomanry, from T.F. Reserve of Officers, 19 August 1914; Temporary Major, 7 May 1916; Acting Major whilst employed on H.Q. of a Yeomanry Regiment, 20 June 1918; Acting Lieutenant-Colonel, 9 November 1918, whilst commanding a Yeomanry Battalion. Relinquishing the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, 3 December 1918, he was promoted substantive Lieutenant-Colonel on 7 March 1921. Post War he commanded the 5th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers from 10 September 1920.

Serving with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from 3 March 1916 with the Denbighshire Yeomanry, on 1 March 1917 whilst in Egypt it was re-designated 24th (Denbighshire Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers Territorial Force. Leaving Egypt on 30 April 1918, the Battalion arrived in France on 18 May 1918. On 21 June 1918, it became part of 94th Brigade, 31st Division and took part in the following actions: battle of St Quentin, battle of Bapaume, battles of Arras, Estaires, Hazebrouck, defence of the Nieppe Forest, attack at La Becque, capture of Vieux Berguin, battle of Ypres including the action at Tieghem. War Services of Army Officers (1920) records that Lieutenant-Colonel Lloyd was wounded.

Post War he returned to his estate and probably continued his former career as a Land Agent. He married Joan Tate on 29 April 1924, whose family owned the well-known Tate & Lyle Company. He was a J.P. of Denbigh and died there in 1971 aged 86 years.