George Lloyd (RAF officer)

Rhodesian-born flying ace

George Lawrence Lloyd

Nickname(s)| Zulu
Born| (1892-10-01)1 October 1892
Southern Rhodesia
Died| 15 July 1955(1955-07-15) (aged 62)
Peekskill, New York, USA
Buried|

Hillside Cemetery, Cortlandt Manor, New York

41°18′59″N 73°53′50″W﻿ / ﻿41.31639°N 73.89722°W﻿ / 41.31639; -73.89722
Allegiance| United Kingdom
Service / branch| British Army
Royal Air Force
Years of service| 1915–1919
Rank| Major
Unit| Staffordshire Yeomanry
No. 60 Squadron RFC
No. 40 Squadron RFC
Awards| Military Cross
Air Force Cross

Major George Lawrence Lloyd MC, AFC (1 October 1892 – 15 July 1955) was a Rhodesian-born flying ace of the First World War, credited with eight aerial victories.[1]

## Early life and background

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Lloyd was born in Rhodesia in 1892, which at that time was a chartered territory of the British South Africa Company.

## World War I

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On 19 November 1915 Lloyd was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Staffordshire Yeomanry (Queen's Own Royal Regiment), Territorial Force.[2] He was later seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, in which he was appointed a flying officer on 28 February 1917.[3] Lloyd was posted to No. 60 Squadron RFC in April 1917, to fly the Nieuport 17 single seat fighter in operations supporting the Battle of Arras. Inferiority of tactics, technology and training meant that RFC suffered heavy casualties, and the period was subsequently known as "Bloody April".[4] On 22 April Lloyd gained his first aerial victory, destroying an observation balloon north-east of Boiry-Notre-Dame. On 29 June, between Douai and Estrées, he accounted for two Albatros D.III fighters, one destroyed and the other driven down out of control, and drove down another D.III over Wancourt on 7 July.[1]

Lloyd was promoted to lieutenant in his regiment on 1 July 1917, while remaining seconded to the RFC as a second lieutenant,[5] but was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain on 6 July,[6] and transferred to No. 40 Squadron RFC,[7] where on 14 July he drove down another D.III east of Douai, for his fifth victory, making him an 'ace'. Further victories followed; he drove down an Albatros D.V three miles east of Lens on 12 August, destroyed an Albatros reconnaissance aircraft over Fromelles on 18 August, and destroyed another D.V at La Bassée on 7 October. His overall tally was a balloon, two Albatros fighters and a two-seater reconnaissance aircraft destroyed, and four Albatros fighters driven down out of control,[1] making him the 12th highest-scoring South African ace of the War.[4][8]

On 19 November Lloyd was awarded the Military Cross,[9] which was gazetted on 19 March 1918. His citation read:

Second Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) George Lawrence Lloyd, Yeomanry and Royal Flying Corps.

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Single-handed, he attacked three enemy machines, one of which he brought down out of control. On another occasion he attacked four enemy machines, one of which he brought down in a steep dive. He has brought down many other enemy machines and taken part in numerous combats, displaying magnificent gallantry and skill on all occasions."[10]

On 1 October 1918, only weeks prior to the armistice, he was promoted to the acting rank of major (a squadron commander's rank).[11] On 2 May 1919 Lloyd relinquished his RAF commission on ceasing to be employed.[12] On 3 June 1919 he was awarded the Air Force Cross in recognition of "distinguished services rendered during the war".[13]

## Post-war life

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After the war, Lloyd emigrated to the United States, where in 1935 he married Martha Boswell (1905–1958), one of The Boswell Sisters, a popular singing trio.[14][15] Lloyd died in Peekskill, New York, on 15 July 1955.[4]

## References

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1. ^ a b c "George Lloyd". The Aerodrome. 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
2. ^ "No. 29402". The London Gazette. 14 December 1915. p. 12455.
3. ^ "No. 29991". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 March 1917. p. 2724.
4. ^ a b c "The First Rhodesian-born air-ace – Major G.L. "Zulu" Lloyd". Militarian.com. 14 January 2009. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
5. ^ "No. 30383". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 November 1917. p. 11831.
6. ^ "No. 30193". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 July 1917. p. 7406.
7. ^ Franks (2000), pp. 26–27.
8. ^ Dix-Peek, Ross. "Hail The Intrepid Few! Southern Rhodesian-born Airmen in the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force during World War One 1916–1919". Rhodesian Services.org. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
9. ^ "No. 30389". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 November 1917. p. 11952.
10. ^ "No. 30590". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 March 1918. p. 3604.
11. ^ "No. 31196". The London Gazette. 21 February 1919. p. 2616.
12. ^ "No. 31416". The London Gazette. 24 June 1919. p. 7945.
13. ^ "No. 31378". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 May 1919. p. 7034.
14. ^ "Cast of Characters". The Boswell Sisters. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
15. ^ Kelly, John (8 May 2011). "1937: Boswell sister nurses ailing parent in New Orleans". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 13 December 2016.

## Bibliography

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* Franks, Norman (2000). Nieuport Aces of World War I. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-961-4.

## External links

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* George Lloyd at Find a Grave