James Percival Lloyd - Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, attached to the 15th (Service) Battalion (1st London Welsh)

 Second Lieutenant James Percival Lloyd - Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 2^nd Battalion, attached to the 15^th (Service) Battalion (1st London Welsh)

Early Life and Family

James Percival Lloyd was born in 1893 in Swansea, the son of James Lloyd, an undertaker, and Elizabeth Neath.

1901 Census

At the time of the 1901 Census, the Lloyd family were residing at 1 Burlais Crescent, Swansea. Pembroke-born James (50) was an undertaker, and Elizabeth (45) managed the household. Their children were Edmund J. (21), a sailor; Herbert (19), an ironmonger’s assistant; Ivor (16), employed on the railways; Arnold J. (12); Percival (8); Mary H. (6); and Frederick G. (3).

1911 Census

By the 1911 Census, the family had moved to 2 Belmont Terrace, Cwmbwrla, Swansea. James (60) continued his work as an undertaker, and Elizabeth (55) remained at home. Their children then present were Herbert (29), an ironmonger; George Arnold (23), a joiner; James Percival (19), employed as a clerk; and Mary Averil (16).

Military Service

James Percival Lloyd was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 2^nd Battalion, attached to the 15^th (Service) Battalion (1st London Welsh). The battalion formed part of the 38th (Welsh) Division and was heavily engaged in operations in the Ypres Salient during the summer of 1917.

On 25^th July 1917, the battalion was holding forward positions north-east of Ypres during the intense preparatory phase leading up to the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele), which began six days later. This period was marked by continuous artillery exchanges, heavy German shelling, aggressive trench raiding, and extensive wiring and consolidation work in exposed front-line trenches.

British artillery was conducting sustained bombardments in preparation for the coming offensive, and German forces responded with determined retaliatory fire. Officers were particularly exposed as they carried out reconnaissance, supervised working parties, organised defensive arrangements, and led patrols into no-man’s-land. Casualties during these days were steady and often severe, even before the main assault commenced.

Death and Commemoration

James Percival Lloyd
Welsh Cemetery (Caesar’s Nose), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
credit - findagrave

Second Lieutenant James Percival Lloyd was killed in action on 25^th July 1917. He is buried at Welsh Cemetery (Caesar’s Nose), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, a burial ground closely associated with the 38th (Welsh) Division and the London Welsh battalion.

His death occurred during the costly and relentless build-up to one of the most infamous battles of the First World War, reflecting the heavy sacrifices made even before the main offensive at Passchendaele began