Pte
Arthur Lloyd
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 25/11/1897 |
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Place of birth: Walthamstow, Essex, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Farm Labourer |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Canada |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 158719 |
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Enlistment date: 01/04/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Mounted Rifles, 4th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 29/04/1953 |
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Place of death: St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada |
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Cause of death: Death post-war (unrelated) |
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Age: 55 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Arthur Lloyd, a former farmer, was born on 25 November 1897 in Walthamstow, Essex, England. He was the son of Walter Robert and Jane Kidd Lloyd and grew up in a family with five siblings. On 3 May 1912, 14-year-old Arthur embarked on the Corsican in Liverpool, England. He disembarked ten days later in Montreal, Quebec.
On 18 September 1915, seventeen-year-old Arthur enlisted in Norwich, Ontario. He served as a private in the 36th Battalion Canadian Infantry and arrived in England on 30 November 1915. In late February 1916, Arthur Lloyd was discharged after being declared medically unfit for service, probably because he had enlisted as a minor. He was sent home, but determined to join the army he re-enlisted on 1 March 1916 in Toronto, Ontario.
On 1 May 1916, he embarked on the Olympic in Halifax and arrived in Liverpool five days later. During this crossing, Arthur met Albert Squire Ryder. The men quickly became friends. They made a 'gentlemen's pact' in which they each agreed to look after each other's families after the war should anything happen to either of them. They exchanged addresses and each went their separate ways. Private Ryder served in the 20th Battalion Canadian Infantry (2nd Canadian Division). Private Lloyd served in the 4th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles, part of the 8th Canadian Brigade, of the 3rd Canadian Division.
Both divisions were to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. The 3rd Canadian Division took part in the Second Battle of Passchendaele from 26 October 1917 until their relief by the 1st Canadian Division on 4 November 1917. Arthur Lloyd probably participated in this battle, although he was on leave in England from 29 October to 8 November 1917.
Private Ryders' 2nd Canadian Division relieved the 4th Canadian Division on 3 November 1917. They made the final assault on Passchendaele and closed the Third Battle of Ypres on 10 November 1917. The 20th Battalion Canadian Infantry were due to be relieved from the front line on the night of 10-11 November 1917, but this move was cancelled. On 11 November, disaster struck: Albert Squire Ryder was killed by a shell near Passchendaele.
Private Arthur Lloyd survived the war and embarked on the Carmania on 16 March 1919, bound for Canada. Keeping the promise he had made to Albert Squire Ryder, he visited his family in St Catharines, Ontario. Arthur Lloyd fell in love with Albert's sister, Violet. As she would later recount, "It was love at first sight. He came to check on us and he never left." The young couple married in St Catharines on 31 April 1920. Arthur Lloyd died at the age of 55 on 29 April 1953. Violet Lloyd died on 6 October 1989, aged 86. They are buried together at Victoria Lawn Cemetery, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
On 18 September 1915, seventeen-year-old Arthur enlisted in Norwich, Ontario. He served as a private in the 36th Battalion Canadian Infantry and arrived in England on 30 November 1915. In late February 1916, Arthur Lloyd was discharged after being declared medically unfit for service, probably because he had enlisted as a minor. He was sent home, but determined to join the army he re-enlisted on 1 March 1916 in Toronto, Ontario.
On 1 May 1916, he embarked on the Olympic in Halifax and arrived in Liverpool five days later. During this crossing, Arthur met Albert Squire Ryder. The men quickly became friends. They made a 'gentlemen's pact' in which they each agreed to look after each other's families after the war should anything happen to either of them. They exchanged addresses and each went their separate ways. Private Ryder served in the 20th Battalion Canadian Infantry (2nd Canadian Division). Private Lloyd served in the 4th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles, part of the 8th Canadian Brigade, of the 3rd Canadian Division.
Both divisions were to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. The 3rd Canadian Division took part in the Second Battle of Passchendaele from 26 October 1917 until their relief by the 1st Canadian Division on 4 November 1917. Arthur Lloyd probably participated in this battle, although he was on leave in England from 29 October to 8 November 1917.
Private Ryders' 2nd Canadian Division relieved the 4th Canadian Division on 3 November 1917. They made the final assault on Passchendaele and closed the Third Battle of Ypres on 10 November 1917. The 20th Battalion Canadian Infantry were due to be relieved from the front line on the night of 10-11 November 1917, but this move was cancelled. On 11 November, disaster struck: Albert Squire Ryder was killed by a shell near Passchendaele.
Private Arthur Lloyd survived the war and embarked on the Carmania on 16 March 1919, bound for Canada. Keeping the promise he had made to Albert Squire Ryder, he visited his family in St Catharines, Ontario. Arthur Lloyd fell in love with Albert's sister, Violet. As she would later recount, "It was love at first sight. He came to check on us and he never left." The young couple married in St Catharines on 31 April 1920. Arthur Lloyd died at the age of 55 on 29 April 1953. Violet Lloyd died on 6 October 1989, aged 86. They are buried together at Victoria Lawn Cemetery, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
Connection to other soldiers 1
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Albert Squire Ryder
brother-in-law |
Sources 5
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Census of Canada, 1921 (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG 31). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Incoming Passenger Lists, 1865-1935 (Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, (LAC), RG 76-C). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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Personnel Records of the First World War, Lionel John Baber Aitkens (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 63 - 42). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928 (Archives of Ontario, Toronto, RG 80). http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/ Sources used |