LLOYD, FRANCIS,
Lieutenant Colonel, was born 12 August 1853, son
of Colonel R T Lloyd and the Lady Frances, daughter of Thomas Robert, 10th
Earl of Kirmoull. He was educated at Harrow, and was gazetted to the 32nd
Duke of Wellington's Regiment 18 March 1874; was transferred to the
Grenadier Guards 29 August 1874; because Lieutenant 18 March 1875, and
Captain 1 April 1885. Captain Lloyd served in the Sudan Expedition in 1885
(Suakin), and was employed as Signalling Officer, Guards Brigade; was
present at the Battle of Hasheen; was mentioned in Despatches [London
Gazette, 25 August 1885]; received the Medal with clasp, and the Bronze
Star. He was Regimental Adjutant, Grenadier Guards, 7 May 1889 to 6 May
1893; was promoted to Major 10 August 1892. He was Commandant, School of
Instruction for Militia and Volunteers, London, 1 January 1894 to 24 August
1896, and commanded the Guards' Depot 25 August 1896 to 18 May 1897; was
promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 23 October 1898. He served in the Nile
Expedition of 1898, and was present at the Battle of Khartoum; was mentioned
in Despatches [London Gazette, 30 September 1898]; received the Egyptian
Medal with clasp; the Medal, and was created a Companion of the
Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 15 November 1898]: "Francis
Lloyd, Lieutenant Colonel, Grenadier Guards. In recognition of services
during the recent operations in the Sudan". Lieutenant Colonel Francis
Lloyd served in the South African War from 1900-2, in command of the 2nd
Battalion Grenadier Guards. He took part in operations in the Orange Free
State, April to May 1900; operations in Orange River Colony, May to 29
November 1900, including operations at Biddulphsberg (severely wounded).
Sir A Conan Doyle says, in ‘The Great Boer War' (page 341): "The Boers were
in full retreat, but now, as always, they were dangerous. One cannot take
them for granted, for the very moment of defeat is that at which they are
capable of some surprising effort. Rundle, following them up from Senekal,
found them in strong possession of the kopjes at Biddulphsberg, and received
a check in his endeavour to drive them out. It was an action fought amid
great grass fires, where the possible fate of the wounded was horrible to
contemplate. The 2nd Grenadiers, the Scots Guards, the East Yorkshires and
the West Kents were all engaged, with the 2nd and 79th Field Batteries and a
force of Yeomanry. Our losses incurred in the open from unseen rifles were
thirty killed and 130 wounded, including Colonel Lloyd of the Grenadiers".
Operations in the Transvaal, February to March 1901; operations in Orange
River Colony, December 1900, to February 1901, and March 1901 to 31 May
1902. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901,
and 29 July 1902]; received the Queen's Medal with three clasps; the King's
Medal with two clasps, and was created a CB. He was given the Brevet
of Colonel 23 October 1902; became Colonel 2 May 1904; was Brigadier
General, 1st Brigade, 1st Army Corps, 27 April 1904 to 1 May 1908; created a
CVO in 1909; was GOC, Welsh Division, Western Command, 26 January 1909 to 2
September 1913; promoted to Major General 7 December 1909: created a KCB in
1911; was GOC, London District, 3 September 1913 to 30 September 1918; was
promoted to Lieutenant General, 1 January 1917; created a GCVO in September
1918; was placed on half-pay 30 September 1918; placed on retired pay 12
August 1920. He was appointed Colonel, Royal Welch Fusiliers, 2 February
1915. Sir Francis Lloyd had the Grand Cross of St Sava (Serbia);
Grand Officer, Crown of Belgium; White Eagle of Russia, 2nd Class of the
Dannebrog, and Knight of Grace of St John of Jerusalem (1916). He married,
in 1881, Mary, daughter of George Leckie, of Stirling.
