Sapper David James Lloyd

SAPPER DAVID JAMES LLOYD

169 – 1st Tunnelling Company

David James Lloyd was born between January and March 1884 in Brynmawr, Breconshire, South Wales the son of John and Anne (nee Jones) Lloyd, with his birth registered in Crickhowell, Monmouthshire.

In 1891 the family were residing at 6 Cemetery Road, Llangattock, Breconshire, Wales and consisted of John (40), Anne (34), Evan Thomas (9), David James (7), Henry John (3) and Mary Elizabeth (1). Ten years later in 1901 the family was in Garw Valley, Glamorgan at 24 Garreg Road and living there was John (49) Coal Miner, Anne (44), David J. (17) Coal Miner, William J. (13) Coal Miner, Mary E. (11) and Daniel L. (7).

He came to Queensland. It is possible that the twenty-five year old David Lloyd who arrived on December 30, 1909 on the Omrah is him. The Brisbane Courier on Tuesday December 24, 1909 reported its arrival:

In 1913 he was a miner at Blackstone, Ipswich, Qld.

At the recruiting depot in Brisbane, Qld on September 13, 1915 the unmarried miner applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination Forms of Attestation were completed giving his description on enlistment as twenty-nine years of age, 173cms (5ft 8ins) tall, weighing 62.7kgs (132lbs) with a chest expansion of 89-94cms (35-37ins). Complexion was dark with blue eyes and brown hair. Church of England was his religion. His birthplace was given as Pontycynmer, Glamorganshire and now resided at Silkstone, Ipswich, Qld. Next-of-kin was his mother Mrs Anne Lloyd of 24 Gareg Street, Pontycynmer, Glamorgan, South Wales. He was sworn in the same day.

After basic training he was sent to the Mining Corps camp at Casula near Liverpool, NSW and assigned to the No. 1 Company of the Corps with the regimental number 169 in the rank of Sapper.

At a civic parade in the Domain, Sydney on Saturday February 19, 1916, a large crowd of relations and friends of the departing Miners lined the four sides of the parade ground. Sixty police and 100 Garrison Military Police were on hand to keep the crowds within bounds. The scene was an inspiriting one. On the extreme right flank, facing the saluting base, were companies of the Rifle Club School; next came a detachment of the 4th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, then the bands of the Light Horse, Liverpool Depot, and the Miners’ on the left, rank upon rank, the Miners’ Battalion.

The Corps boarded HMAT A38 Ulysses in Sydney, NSW on February 20 and sailed for the European theatre. Arriving in Melbourne, Victoria on February 22 the Miners camped at Broadmeadows for a stay of 7 days while further cargo was loaded.

Another parade was held at the Broadmeadows camp on March 1, the Miners’ Corps being inspected by the Governor-General, as Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth military forces.

Leaving Melbourne on March 1, Ulysses arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia on March 7 where a further 53 members were taken on board.

On Wednesday March 8, 1916 the whole force, with their band and equipment, paraded at Fremantle prior to leaving Victoria Quay at 9.30 o’clock.

The ship hit a reef when leaving Fremantle harbour, stripping the plates for 40 feet and, although there was a gap in the outside plate, the inner bilge plates were not punctured. The men on board nicknamed her ‘Useless’. The Miners were off-loaded and sent to the Blackboy Hill Camp where further training was conducted.

The Mining Corps comprised 1303 members at the time they embarked with a Headquarters of 40; No.1 Company – 390; No.2 Company – 380; No.3 Company – 392, and 101 members of the 1st Reinforcements.

Finally departing Fremantle on April 1, Ulysses voyaged via Suez, Port Said and Alexandria in Egypt. The Captain of the shipwas reluctantto take Ulysses out of the Suez Canal because he felt the weight of the ship made it impossible to manoeuvre in the situation of a submarine attack. The troops were transhipped to HM Transport B.1 Ansonia, then on to Valetta, Malta before disembarking at Marseilles, France on May 5, 1916. As a unit they entrained at Marseilles on May 7 and detrained on May 11 at Hazebrouck.

A ‘Mining Corps’ did not fit in the British Expeditionary Force, and the Corps was disbanded and three Australian Tunnelling Companies were formed. The Technical Staff of the Corps Headquarters, plus some technically qualified men from the individual companies, was formed into the entirely new Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company (AEMMBC), better known as the ‘Alphabetical Company’.

He was wounded in action on June 23, 1916 but remained on duty. The Unit Diary entry of the 1st Tunnelling Company entry for that day shows:

Base Records wrote to the Paymaster, 2nd Military District in reply of the 8th idem. stating that according to their records Sapper Lloyd embarked from Sydney on February 20, 1916 on Ulysses with the No. 1 Mining Corps. He made allotment of 4/- per diem in favour of his mother Mrs A.N. Lloyd residing at 24 Garey Street, Pontycynmer, Glamorganshire, South Wales, Great Britain.

Sapper Lloyd was transferred to the 1st Tunnelling Company in the field on December 24, 1916.

His service continued without sickness, accident or injury.

The Paymaster in Perth, W.A. on May 17, 1917 sent a lettergram to Base Records inquiring on information and movements of 169 W.J. Lloyd No. 2 Miners’ Company. A day later a reply was sent by lettergram stating that Lloyd embarked on February 20, 1916 and nothing further was available.

Blue Chevrons were issued to wear on his uniform showing twelve months service abroad.

He was paid in France on May 5, 1918 and on July 17, 1918 was counted in an audit of the company. He was granted leave from August 28 until September 13, 1918.

After Peace was declared the Tunnelling Companies remained as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with rehabilitation of their area by clearing roads and bridges of delayed-action mines left by the enemy.

His section was recalled to Base on February 12, 1919 and they returned to the Aust General Base Depot on February 24, 1919. Crossing the English Channel from France they arrived at No. 3 Group camp at Parkhouse the next day.

A Kit Inventory was taken at Parkhouse camp on February 27, 1919 and the following items were issued:

Hat badge, Singlet, two Collar Badges and two Australia Titles.

These articles were withdrawn and replaced:

Woollen breeches, jacket and putties.

On March 20, 1919 his group moved to the Reserve Brigade Aust Artillery Convalescent camp at Heytesbury and he joined them on March 24.

Disciplinary action took place on March 25, 1919 after he was apprehended by the Military Police in Bristol on 21/1/19 for the following:

Offence: Parkhouse 18/3/19 AWL from 2359hrs 17/3/19 to 2115hrs 21/3/19

Award: Forfeits 10 day’s pay by Major G.S. Cook 25/3/19

Total forfeiture: 14 day’s pay.

On April 1, 1919 at the R.B.A.A. camp he was issued with a set of Khaki Drill.

He embarked on April 20, 1919 on the H.T. Boonah for the voyage to Australia. Next-of-kin was advised by Base Records on May 25 that he was on his way home. The ship docked in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on June 8, 1919 and was transhipped to Sardinia for the journey to Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) He arrived in Brisbane, Qld (1st M.D.) on June 14, 1919. The Brisbane Courier on Saturday June 14, 1919 published the following notice:

Military Discharge was issued in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on July 29, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment. Later that year his address was Cothill Road, Silkstone, Qld working as a miner.

He married Gwenllian Howells on April 22, 1922 and their residence was Alice Street, Silkstone, Qld. A Statement of Service was sent to the Department of Repatriation, Brisbane on May 13, 1925.

While at work he met with a small accident which was reported in The Brisbane Courier on August 31, 1928:

A Statement of Service was issued by Base Records to the Department of Repatriation, Brisbane on May 20, 1930.

For serving his country Sapper 169 David James Lloyd, 1st Tunnelling Company was issued with the British War Medal (12167) and the Victory Medal (12008).

He continued to work as a miner and 23 Alice Street, Silkstone remained their home.

David James Lloyd passed away on May 22, 1959 aged 74 years. Arrangements were published in The Courier-Mail on Saturday May 23, 1959:

His War Plaque is located in the War Service Section of Mount Thompson Memorial Gardens, Brisbane.

In the Pinnaroo Cemetery at Bridgeman Downs, Brisbane he is also commemorated with a war plaque in the Garden of Remembrance on Wall 5 Row B.