1409 Pte David Lloyd, Defender of Rorke's Drift

Hello all,

Just to let the forum know that plans are well under way to provide the unmarked grave of 1409 Pte David Lloyd, 'B' Coy 2/24th Regiment with a new headstone in Aberdare cemetery, south Wales.

http://aberdareonline.co.uk/news/rhondda-cynon-taff/unmarked-rorkes-drift-grave-aberdare

Having contacted a few local media outlets, I have been fortunate enough to have had a response from the Aberdare branch of the Royal Welsh Veterans' Association who have shown a fantastic interest in lending support; as a result of their efforts, funding has been secured and I will keep the forum updated with regard to any further news.

Regards,

Tim

Well done Tim.

Tim 'The legend' Needham.

Nice work Tim.

That's excellent news Tim , well done to all involved .
90th

May I add my congrats too Tim!
Julian

Brilliant work Tim

I'm pleased to report that a date of Saturday 29th September has been set for the rededication event for David Lloyd at Aberdare cemetery, beginning at 1000.

All arrangements for the new headstone & ceremony have been taken on by Phil Roberts and the Aberdare branch of the RWelsh Veterans' Association, I'm sure members of the forum will join me in congratulating them on their efforts so far!

Regards,

Tim

Excellent Tim. Thanks for up- date.

Thanks Tim , updates are always greatly appreciated .
90th

A couple of photos courtesy of Terry Jones. Via Tim Needham

Thanks for sharing the pics and Pete thanks for posting them .
90th

David Lloyd gravestone, courtesy of Terry Jones.via Tim Needham.

Great work by all concerned.

I would like to thank all those concerned in placing the headstone of the late defender of Roakes Drift, I only realised in the past Number of years that David was a relative of my late grand father John Lloyd. Could someone please let me have the grave number and grave site of the late Mr Lloyd.

Regards

Nigel O'Shea

Nigel,

David Lloyd's grave is in Aberdare cemetery, plot Y14/3.

Regards,

Tim

Thank you Tim much appreciate the work you have done for the late David Lloyd

During a recent three-way conversation with Martin and Tim, we explored the background to David Lloyd of RD.

HOLME and ABJ have this:
born in Dowlais, Glamorganshire c.1855; attested 5.6.1877 aged 19y 1m (i.e. born in 1858; “there seems to be a problem with David’s age. The census for 1871 shows him as 16 suggesting he was born c.1855, but his army papers, marriage certificate and death certificate suggest he was born c.1858, his brother William was born c.1858. I think due to his illiteracy he may not have known of any mistake made on the census and was in-fact born in 1855.”
died both 57 Tramroad Terrace and The Cottage, Quarry Row, Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire 16.9.1917
buried Cefn-coed-y-cymmer, Glamorganshire 19.9.1917 plot XI/4 with his wife Mary.

TIM NEEDHAM who helped place the re-dedicated gravestone over an unmarked grave in Aberdare has this:
born 11.5.1853 in Lampeter, Cardiganshire (which appears on the new gravestone)
died 4 Dare St., Aberdare 15.2.1916 (ditto)
buried Aberdare Cemetery, plot Y14/3 with his wife Mary.

ME:
Kris Wheatley once told me Lloyd was born in Llanfair Clydogau near Lampeter (which Tim affirms).

The questions in my mind are these:
Where does Holme’s narrative come from and why can it be dismissed?
Who lies in the Cefn cemetery with his wife Mary? Someone with the same name, same wife??
Does anyone live near the Cefn cemetery and can go and look what it says on the gravestone?
All thoughts gratefully received as ever!

Julian Whybra

Hi Julian 

This is on the headstone:

PTE DAVID LLOYD 
2/24th regiment of foot
Defender of Rorkes Drift 
South Africa 
January 22nd - 23rd 1879
Born in Lampeter May 11, 1853
Died 4 DARE ST, ABERDARE
February 15, 1916
Also his wife
Mary Lloyd 
Died April 1, 1920 aged 59

I think I have read somewhere that he was originally buried in Merthyr and reinterred in Aberdare, just can't remember where I read it. I will see if I can find it, but I may be wrong.
I would think Holme was right if he was originally buried in Dowlais.

Eddie
The info you provided is on the Aberdare headstone (see photo above).
I asked whether anyone knew what was on the Cefn headstone.
Easy mistake to make.

All
Thanks to Tim who has access to and today sent me Kris's notes and docs on David Lloyd, it can definitely be confirmed that the Aberdare grave and info is the correct one and the Cefn grave and info is the wrong one.
Big thanks to Tim and Kris for settling the matter.

again, thanks to Tim/Kris the Cefn grave contains David Lloyd and Mary Ann (nee Walker) who married in 1879.