THORNTON-LE-MOORS (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD
Cheshire
England
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 53.26495, Longitude: -2.83901
Location Information
Thornton-le-Moors is a small village located to the east of Ellesmere Port in Cheshire. St. Mary's Church is located on Thornton Green Lane.
There is one Commonwealth burial in the Churchyard from World War One.
Thornton-le-Moors is a small village located to the east of Ellesmere Port in Cheshire. St. Mary's Church is located on Thornton Green Lane.
There is one Commonwealth burial in the Churchyard from World War One.
101105 Company Sergeant Major
George William Lloyd, M. C. & D. C. M.
The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
5th October 1920, aged 45.
Buried North of Church
The information below supplied by 'The Ellesmerian Club', the alumni organisation for Ellesmere College where George was a pupil.
George William Lloyd, M. C. & D. C. M.
The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
5th October 1920, aged 45.
Buried North of Church
The information below supplied by 'The Ellesmerian Club', the alumni organisation for Ellesmere College where George was a pupil.
George William Lloyd, the youngest child of George, a farmer at Elton, Chester and his wife, Margaret, was born on 25th June 1875. By the time of his death in 1920 he had enlisted in the British army on three separate occasions, served as a police constable and worked on the railways. He had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, Britain’s third highest military award after the Victoria Cross, and the Military Cross.
George had two older brothers, Joseph and John, and a sister, Mary. Two other siblings died in infancy. Where his early education took place is not known but he was one of nine new boys admitted to Ellesmere College on 28th January 1889. He was allocated a bed in the ‘Alfred’ dormitory and was placed in the Servitor’s School where “a certain number of boys above eleven years of age are received, who assist in the household work, and are instructed in School daily. The Terms are £5 a year, or £1 13s. 1d. a Term, for the School Dues. The College provides each Servitor with a tunic and cap, and an apron for his work”. The full annual fees at the time were eighteen guineas. Nothing is known as to any academic achievements and there is only a single mention of him in a sports team. On 7th December 1889, he played forward in the ‘Alfred’ team in the match against the ‘Harold’ dormitory – sadly, George’s team lost.
George left Ellesmere in December 1889 a few months before his fourteenth birthday. He never maintained any contact with the college or Old Ellesmerian Club and it is most likely that he did not continue with his education as the 1891 Census recorded him working on his father’s farm. However, his enthusiasm for such work waned and on 6th September 1893, just a few months after his coming of age, he signed his Attestation Papers at Chester. Two days later he was embodied in London as Private Lloyd, Service No: 4476 in the Grenadier Guards. He signed on for three year’s regular army service followed by nine years in the army reserve.
George obviously took to army life and on 5th February 1894 he extended his service to seven years with the colours. Promotion to Lance Corporal followed on 13th April 1896 and he was made full Corporal on 26thJanuary 1898. On 3rd July that year Lance Sergeant Lloyd walked May Lyndon Crowdet down the aisle at St. Peter’s church, Colchester. He had been promoted five weeks before the wedding. The couple went on to have three children George, Mary & Edward.
Ten days after his wedding he embarked for service in Gibraltar and was there when his son, George, was born on 13th November 1898. His overseas service ended on 3rd October 1899 at which point he was able to enjoy five months ‘home service’ before another posting, this time to take part in the South African campaign. He embarked on 18th March 1900 and did not return home until August 1902. Whilst there he was promoted Sergeant. Exactly where he served or saw action is not known but he was awarded the King’s South African Medal 1902 with clasps for service in Wittebergen, Cape Colony and the Transvaal.
Six weeks after his return home he was posted to the 1st Class Army Reserve which necessitated him finding full time employment elsewhere. George’s solution was to become a policeman and by January 1903 he was Police Constable 351, 2nd class, in Leeds. At six-foot tall in his stockinged feet he would have been an imposing figure ready to uphold the law. On 5th June, the Chief constable commended him “for vigilance and courage in effecting the arrest, single handed of two burglars and especially promoted to 1st Class constable from the 15th May. Also commended by the City justices”
The City justices further commended him on 10th August “for tact and vigilance displayed in the arrest of three thieves”. November 13th saw him specially mentioned in the Weekly Record for “his tact and vigilance displayed in the detection and apprehension of three thieves”.
In December 1904, he was transferred from ‘D’ to ‘A’ Division but also managed to blot his copy book when he was fined one day’s pay for “quitting his beat and entering a private house to obtain drink”. A year later he was promoted to the “three years’ service class” but also lost three days’ pay as he was charged with “for missing a portion of his beat and failing to find that a fire had broken out on an adjoining beat”. His time with the army reserve ended in September 1905 but George signed on for a further four years.
In April 1906, he was discovered “under the influence of drink when off duty in plain clothes”. His police career ended abruptly in February 1906 when he was “ordered to resign forthwith for absenting himself from his beat and found sitting down, smoking in a slaughter house”.
George now needed to find other employment and the 1911 Census recorded that the family lived at 12, Ribble Street, Liverpool and he was employed as a railway foreman at the Waterloo Goods Yard.
When war broke out in August 1914, George lost no time in enlisting for the second time. He completed his Attestation Papers at Seaforth and declared that he was 39 years old, married, employed on the railway and had some military experience with the Territorial Force. He agreed to serve for the duration of the war or one year. He was six-feet tall (1.80m) and weighed in at 170 pounds (77kg).
George started his second military career as Private Lloyd, Service No: 3/11772 and was immediately posted to ‘D’ Company, the King’s Liverpool Regiment which obviously recognised his military knowledge as he was appointed Sergeant in the 11th Battalion a week later. Three weeks later he was promoted Colour Sergeant and by the end of January 1915 he was Warrant Officer, 2nd Class.
He embarked for overseas service with the British Expeditionary Force on 19th May 1915 and remained overseas until two weeks before the signing of the Armistice. His period of leave was due to end on 11thNovember 1918 but, hardly surprising, it was extended until 14th.
At the end of July 1918 he was transferred to the 15th Battalion, the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.
Exactly where and when he saw active service during the time he served with the B.E.F. is not recorded but he was mentioned in despatches in January 1917 and the citation for his Distinguished Conduct Medal read; ”For conspicuous gallantry in action. He greatly assisted in the consolidation of a strong point. Later he assisted to carry in wounded men under heavy fire”. The D.C.M. was the oldest British award for “gallantry in the field” by other ranks. After the introduction of the Military Medal in April 1916, the award of the D.C.M. was for “exceptional acts of bravery”.
The citation that accompanied the award of the Military Cross to Colour Sergeant Major Lloyd was published in the London Gazette in July 1918. It read; “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This warrant officer took command of his company after all his officers had become casualties, and showed great skill in choosing lines of resistance and in getting his men into position. He controlled his men with admirable coolness and judgement, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy by well-ordered fire, and holding his ground to the last moment. He set a fine example to his men”.
George returned from France on 31st January 1919 and, on 1st March, was placed on the ‘Z’ Reserve list in case there was a resumption of hostilities. He was formally discharged on 24th June 1919 and he immediately completed another set of Attestation Papers at Seaforth the very next day. It was his 40th birthday.
On these documents he stated he had previously worked on the railway and had served with the 15thBattalion, the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He was deemed fit for garrison duties and immediately granted the rank of C.S.M. and then further promoted acting Regimental Sergeant Major.
A week later he transferred back to his old regiment and was appointed Temporary R.S.M., the 29th Battalion, the King’s Liverpool Regiment. At the end of July, he returned to France for two months before he enjoyed a spell of home service. Christmas 1919 was spent back in Europe and he remained there until 7th August 1920, except for two weeks’ furlough in February.
His third military career ended on 17th August 1920 when he went before a Medical Board at Preston and was declared “no longer fit for war service”. He was suffering from chronic gastritis.
In addition to his South African medals, the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Cross he was awarded the Victory Medal, the British War Medal and the 1914-1915 Star.
George’s return to ‘civvie street’ was short as he died on 5th October 1920. He was buried at Thornton-le-Moors (St. Mary) Churchyard, Cheshire.
George had two older brothers, Joseph and John, and a sister, Mary. Two other siblings died in infancy. Where his early education took place is not known but he was one of nine new boys admitted to Ellesmere College on 28th January 1889. He was allocated a bed in the ‘Alfred’ dormitory and was placed in the Servitor’s School where “a certain number of boys above eleven years of age are received, who assist in the household work, and are instructed in School daily. The Terms are £5 a year, or £1 13s. 1d. a Term, for the School Dues. The College provides each Servitor with a tunic and cap, and an apron for his work”. The full annual fees at the time were eighteen guineas. Nothing is known as to any academic achievements and there is only a single mention of him in a sports team. On 7th December 1889, he played forward in the ‘Alfred’ team in the match against the ‘Harold’ dormitory – sadly, George’s team lost.
George left Ellesmere in December 1889 a few months before his fourteenth birthday. He never maintained any contact with the college or Old Ellesmerian Club and it is most likely that he did not continue with his education as the 1891 Census recorded him working on his father’s farm. However, his enthusiasm for such work waned and on 6th September 1893, just a few months after his coming of age, he signed his Attestation Papers at Chester. Two days later he was embodied in London as Private Lloyd, Service No: 4476 in the Grenadier Guards. He signed on for three year’s regular army service followed by nine years in the army reserve.
George obviously took to army life and on 5th February 1894 he extended his service to seven years with the colours. Promotion to Lance Corporal followed on 13th April 1896 and he was made full Corporal on 26thJanuary 1898. On 3rd July that year Lance Sergeant Lloyd walked May Lyndon Crowdet down the aisle at St. Peter’s church, Colchester. He had been promoted five weeks before the wedding. The couple went on to have three children George, Mary & Edward.
Ten days after his wedding he embarked for service in Gibraltar and was there when his son, George, was born on 13th November 1898. His overseas service ended on 3rd October 1899 at which point he was able to enjoy five months ‘home service’ before another posting, this time to take part in the South African campaign. He embarked on 18th March 1900 and did not return home until August 1902. Whilst there he was promoted Sergeant. Exactly where he served or saw action is not known but he was awarded the King’s South African Medal 1902 with clasps for service in Wittebergen, Cape Colony and the Transvaal.
Six weeks after his return home he was posted to the 1st Class Army Reserve which necessitated him finding full time employment elsewhere. George’s solution was to become a policeman and by January 1903 he was Police Constable 351, 2nd class, in Leeds. At six-foot tall in his stockinged feet he would have been an imposing figure ready to uphold the law. On 5th June, the Chief constable commended him “for vigilance and courage in effecting the arrest, single handed of two burglars and especially promoted to 1st Class constable from the 15th May. Also commended by the City justices”
The City justices further commended him on 10th August “for tact and vigilance displayed in the arrest of three thieves”. November 13th saw him specially mentioned in the Weekly Record for “his tact and vigilance displayed in the detection and apprehension of three thieves”.
In December 1904, he was transferred from ‘D’ to ‘A’ Division but also managed to blot his copy book when he was fined one day’s pay for “quitting his beat and entering a private house to obtain drink”. A year later he was promoted to the “three years’ service class” but also lost three days’ pay as he was charged with “for missing a portion of his beat and failing to find that a fire had broken out on an adjoining beat”. His time with the army reserve ended in September 1905 but George signed on for a further four years.
In April 1906, he was discovered “under the influence of drink when off duty in plain clothes”. His police career ended abruptly in February 1906 when he was “ordered to resign forthwith for absenting himself from his beat and found sitting down, smoking in a slaughter house”.
George now needed to find other employment and the 1911 Census recorded that the family lived at 12, Ribble Street, Liverpool and he was employed as a railway foreman at the Waterloo Goods Yard.
When war broke out in August 1914, George lost no time in enlisting for the second time. He completed his Attestation Papers at Seaforth and declared that he was 39 years old, married, employed on the railway and had some military experience with the Territorial Force. He agreed to serve for the duration of the war or one year. He was six-feet tall (1.80m) and weighed in at 170 pounds (77kg).
George started his second military career as Private Lloyd, Service No: 3/11772 and was immediately posted to ‘D’ Company, the King’s Liverpool Regiment which obviously recognised his military knowledge as he was appointed Sergeant in the 11th Battalion a week later. Three weeks later he was promoted Colour Sergeant and by the end of January 1915 he was Warrant Officer, 2nd Class.
He embarked for overseas service with the British Expeditionary Force on 19th May 1915 and remained overseas until two weeks before the signing of the Armistice. His period of leave was due to end on 11thNovember 1918 but, hardly surprising, it was extended until 14th.
At the end of July 1918 he was transferred to the 15th Battalion, the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.
Exactly where and when he saw active service during the time he served with the B.E.F. is not recorded but he was mentioned in despatches in January 1917 and the citation for his Distinguished Conduct Medal read; ”For conspicuous gallantry in action. He greatly assisted in the consolidation of a strong point. Later he assisted to carry in wounded men under heavy fire”. The D.C.M. was the oldest British award for “gallantry in the field” by other ranks. After the introduction of the Military Medal in April 1916, the award of the D.C.M. was for “exceptional acts of bravery”.
The citation that accompanied the award of the Military Cross to Colour Sergeant Major Lloyd was published in the London Gazette in July 1918. It read; “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This warrant officer took command of his company after all his officers had become casualties, and showed great skill in choosing lines of resistance and in getting his men into position. He controlled his men with admirable coolness and judgement, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy by well-ordered fire, and holding his ground to the last moment. He set a fine example to his men”.
George returned from France on 31st January 1919 and, on 1st March, was placed on the ‘Z’ Reserve list in case there was a resumption of hostilities. He was formally discharged on 24th June 1919 and he immediately completed another set of Attestation Papers at Seaforth the very next day. It was his 40th birthday.
On these documents he stated he had previously worked on the railway and had served with the 15thBattalion, the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He was deemed fit for garrison duties and immediately granted the rank of C.S.M. and then further promoted acting Regimental Sergeant Major.
A week later he transferred back to his old regiment and was appointed Temporary R.S.M., the 29th Battalion, the King’s Liverpool Regiment. At the end of July, he returned to France for two months before he enjoyed a spell of home service. Christmas 1919 was spent back in Europe and he remained there until 7th August 1920, except for two weeks’ furlough in February.
His third military career ended on 17th August 1920 when he went before a Medical Board at Preston and was declared “no longer fit for war service”. He was suffering from chronic gastritis.
In addition to his South African medals, the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Cross he was awarded the Victory Medal, the British War Medal and the 1914-1915 Star.
George’s return to ‘civvie street’ was short as he died on 5th October 1920. He was buried at Thornton-le-Moors (St. Mary) Churchyard, Cheshire.
