SERGEANT Arthur Patrick Lloyd

Can anyone confirm he did take part in the Zulu War


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Inquest   Chatham Observer
"THE SHOCKING SUICIDE OF A SERGEANT - INQUEST AND VERDICT
The inquest on the body of Arthur Patrick Lloyd, sergeant in the Submarine Mining Battalion of the Royal Engineers, who was found shot through the head on Friday morning last , near the stockades at Gillingham road, was held in the Casualty Hospital, Brompton, on Saturday evening. Mr E. Woodgate, Deputy Coroner, conducted the inquiry, and Mr W. E, Stokes was the Foreman of the Jury.
   Harry Skinner, Co. Sergt. Major, R. E., identified the deceased as Sergeant of the 28th Company, R. E., whom he had known for the past twelve months. He last saw him alive at ten o’clock a.m. on the previous Thursday, deceased having obtained leave from nine o’clock to midnight of that day. He noticed nothing peculiar about the deceased whatever. His general health was very good. He had served at the Cape and in Egypt in 1882. Witness had heard that deceased had a sun-stroke, but he never seemed to be in any trouble, and was always very jolly. He did not think his recent studying in "testing" had unhinged his mind, and as far as witness knew he had no money or mental troubles.

A TRAGIC SCENE AT MIDNIGHT
   John Jones, Sergeant R. E., said he knew the deceased, and lived in the same room with him. On Thursday night at about a quarter to twelve the deceased entered the room. Witness was in bed, and had been asleep, but the noise which deceased made on entering the room, awoke him. Deceased went to his bed and commenced taking down the irons of it, and witness asked him what he was doing. Deceased, in reply, told him to turn over and go to sleep. Deceased then went to a box, and took out something which witness could not see, but he saw him take out a book and put it back again. Deceased then took his rifle out of the corner of the room, and said "I am going to shoot myself now." Witness jumped up to get out of bed, but the deceased had already loaded the rifle. He pointed the rifle at him, and said "If you attempt to get out of that bed to stop me, I’ll shoot you first." As soon as witness saw the rifle pointed at him he felt he could do nothing. Deceased said "You keep quiet, and I’ll not hurt you, but if you interfere I’ll shoot you." Witness tried to persuade him not to do it, but deceased still pointed the rifle at him, and backed towards the door. As soon as he got to the door he lifted up the curtain and went out. Immediately he left witness got out of bed, put on his trousers, and went after him. There was a gas light burning in the room. He went down and found Sergt. Dodd, to whom he reported the affair. They went out together to search for the deceased, but could not find him. They looked round the ditches and field works, and in every place they thought it was likely he would have gone. He then gave up the search [and] went to bed. The next morning he and Sergt. Dodd, about 7.40, went out again to look for him. The affairs had previously been reported to Sergt. Major Skinner. They found the deceased at about a quarter eight behind a stockade on the field works. He was dead and his head was shattered.

THE FINDING OF THE BODY
   Frederick Ralph Dodd, Sergeant R. E., said that he searched for the deceased without success on the night of the 14th, and again on the morning of the 15th. He found the deceased, who was lying on his stomach, and they could see 6ins of the rifle protruding from between his feet. They did not move him. One of the deceased’s boots was off, but he did not see any string attached to his toe.
   Sergt. Major Skinner, re-called, said Sergt. Jones reported the finding of the body to him, and he accompanied the orderly to where it was lying. The medical officer pulled the rifle away from the deceased, and witness noticed that a boot lace was tied to the trigger, and the lace was looped at the other end. Deceased was of a very quiet disposition, and very sociable.
   Christopher Lloyd, Qr Mr Sergt. Instructor, R. E., said the deceased was his brother, and was 25 years of age. He would have been 26 in March. On Monday deceased’s step father, Thomas Palmer, died at 8, Goodwin terrace, New Brompton. During the time Thomas Palmer was in the house prior to burial, deceased was much affected. He shut himself up in the room with the dead body two or three times when Palmer was in his coffin. He purchased flowers and strewed them on and around body. On Thursday at the burial deceased was again much affected; witness rode with him in the carriage. After the funeral, and just before tea, deceased was very jolly and hearty, more particularly with a sister of witness whom he had not seen for ten years. He went to see her off to London at nine o’clock, and then returned to Goodwin terrace. From there he went Copenhagen road, and the witnesses wife afterwards informed him that the deceased complained of pains in the head. Witness had known to have had pains in the head before. Witness last saw him alive between ten and half past tem p.m.. The deceased had been ill of dysentery in Egypt, but when returning from active service from Zululand, between Etsowe and Maritzburg, he had a slight touch of sun stroke, which was not put onto his medical history sheet. Deceased was told serious consequences would have occurred if he had not bled at the nose. Many years ago at Maidstone the deceased received a severe blow on the frontal bone near the eye from a swing boat, and was delirious for two or three days. The doctor who attended him warned his mother to be careful, and not to send him to school for some time as it might affect his brain, and to keep him from excitement. Latterly deceased had studied hard in witnesses house at electricity, generally calling six evenings out of seven, and staying from about six till eleven, reading hard all the time. On several occasions he had complained of pains in his head. Witness recommended to take aperient medicine. He did so, but it did him no good, as he still complained of his head. He also said he was required to do too much, to learn electricity, the new Infantry drill, to carry on the instruction of a class and the Presidency of the Mess Committee. The deceased had no other troubles.
The Coroner said he thought the jury would agree with him that it was suicide whilst in a state of temporary insanity. It was a very sad case indeed.
The Jury concurred with the Coroner, and returned a verdict of "Temporary insanity"

Grange Road Cemetery, Gillingham.

Source:KENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Littlehand,

The only A. Lloyd I can find was a Private in the 57th Regiment.

There were R.E.'s deployed during the disturbances after the 1879, and during the Civil War. It is possible that he could have been at Fort Curtis which dates from 1883, and was built by R.E.'s, which was on the outskirts of Eshowe.

Just a suggestion.

John Y.

It's a good start, thanks John.