OFFICER ENLISTS AS PRIVATE.

Lieutenant G F Lloyd, who for some time has been supply officer at the military camp, Ascotvale, has retired from that position, and enlisted as a private. He goes into camp at Broadmeadows tomorrow

Friday 31 March 1916
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2108345   

FAMILY NOTICES

MONDS.— On May 9th, 1916, at "Lebrina,"   St. John-street, Launceston, Thomas Wilks Monds, the beloved father of Mrs. G. S.   Lloyd. "Clifton," 5 Levien-street, Essendon,   aged 87 years. 

Family Notices. (1916, May 26). Spectator and Methodist Chronicle (Melbourne, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 674. Retrieved December 20, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154270867

The Rev. G. S. Lloyd. Essendon, has received the following interesting letter from his son, Staff Sergt. G. F. Lloyd, who recently landed at Salisbury Plains [1916]:

We've all arrived safely and are now quartered in a portion of Salisbury Plains. After a run of fifteen days from Colombo, we arrived at Port of Suez, and after hanging off for some hours, entered the Canal at about 4 p.m. The town has little attraction, and the coast along the Red Sea is very barren. From a military point of view, the Canal had much of interest; there were monitors on guard duty, and the defence all along the banks. The sun set just as we were approaching the Bitter Lakes and the afterglow was both gorgeous and delicate in its many coloured tints. The scenery at the far end of the Canal was pleasing, and the little stations along the banks, with their palm groves and other tropical greenery looked very pretty. Port Said is a good harbour, and was fairly congested with shipping. At the entrance of the Canal there was an auxiliary cruiser for housing aeroplanes and seaplanes. Early in the morning a seaplane came whizzing past us, and all day aeroplanes and seaplanes were over the harbour. Several vessels passed while we were coaling; one had a lot of Seaforth highlanders on board. Passing out, one saw British and French cruisers. We were convoyed by a torpedo boat destroyer. She was a smart little boat, and we didn't even think of torpedoes or subs. We passed close to Malta, and there she left us, after signalling "Good bye, good luck." We cheered the crew as we passed close to them, and they returned the compliment. Her place was taken by an ugly looking patrol boat. Site didn't look half so business - like as the other little chap.

We had a smooth passage to Marseilles. Our boat skirted the coast for miles, and search-lights around the ports were on us all the time. As soon as we showed in the harbour a fussy little launch came along side, and put a searchlight all over us. The Navy do things in a most efficient way. Their care and precautions are great; they do not take risks. We pulled into the wharf about mid-day the following day, and disembarked at 7 p.m., and entrained at 10 p.m. We left at 11.35, or, according to French time, 35 minutes past 23. We couldn't see much until daylight, which is at 3.45 a.m. They have a daylight saving bill in England and France, which considerably alters the day. Under this arrangement it is quite light till 10 p.m. and after.

When daylight came, it revealed beautiful France in all its glory. I hardly thought it could be so magnificent. The railway from Marseilles runs for hundreds of miles along the Rhone River Valley, and in several places crosses and skirts the river itself. The river is a fine stream half as wide again as the Murray on an average. The banks are low and bordered with greenery of all descriptions. This train journey is renowned throughout England and France for its exceptionally fine scenery. Quaint old chateaux could be seen away on the hill and mountain tops, while pretty red-roofed cottages were studded over the lower land. It is interesting to see how they carry on agriculture in France. They practice intense culture to perfection. In one small field they have four or five different crops-one crop of wheat ready for harvest, the other quite green; then cabbages, turnips, other vegetables in seed with yellow tops. Consequently the landscape presented quite a coloured Mosaic appearance. Some of the little towns were most picturesque; all had their churches with their spires or towers. Churches were to be seen all over the countryside, and here and there crucifixes were erected on the hilltops.

The people all along the line cheered, and at Valence a great crowd greeted us. One lady amongst them spoke English, and it sounded quite homely. The French people are wonderfully optimistic, in spite of the fact that half the people are in mourning. Everyone smiles, and cannot do enough for you. It was interesting to meet some of the French soldiers who could speak English. Several had German helmets in their possession, but the great thing is to obtain or capture a German sword.

Leaving Valence, we steamed along at a slow pace, and the country was just as fine. The French have a great country to fight for, and a wonderful fight they are putting up. We reached Lyons about three o'clock. This city is a fine one, with the Rhone running through it. Leaving Lyons, we passed through a number of tunnels; on the trip we must have passed 20 or 30 - some four miles in length. The rail journey gives plenty of change. After leaving Lyons, we climbed higher and got into the mountain and forest country, with its wilder scenery. I noticed that all the roads seemed to pass under the railway, and such roads they are quite white and fit for a motor track, and bordered with poplar trees. At Versailles we had a great welcome from the people. At Nantes we were allowed to disentrain, and wander about the platform. The station is very large. A big French express caught my eye. I went over to it, and a gentleman and lady beckoned me. They couldn't speak a word of English, so I tried some of my French upon them, which seemed to surprise and please them; result, some delicious fruit for companion and myself.

Another move brought us into the outer circle line of Paris, but our next stopping place was at Rouen. We had now been in the train 40 hours, and not much of the day was left. Outside one of the towns we passed an enormous crowd of railway engines shunted on to a side track - all sorts and sizes, brought from Belgium and Northern France, away from the Bosches. The engines were in rows, and each row half a mile long. Some of them were enormous affairs of rather ugly appearance, their funnels only a few inches high. I reckon our A2 could hide inside some of their boilers. The trains in France are of tremendous length, and travel some, too. The Riviera express passed us, cutting it out at 65 per hour. After one of the finest railway trips in the world we reached our port at 3.30 in the morning, and were soon on ship-board again, and a short run took us across the Channel."

OUR SOLDIERS. (1916, October 12). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 4 Edition: Morning.. Retrieved February 13, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74594398

The many friends of the Rev. G. S. Lloyd. Methodist minister, of Levien street, Essendon, will regret to learn that news has come to hand of the death in France of his only son, Company-Sergeant Major, Warrant-Officer Frank Lloyd. The deceased officer, up to the time of his enlistment, was supply officer at the Ascot Vale camp, and was very popular with all who knew him.

MARCH 5TH, AT 8 P.M. (1917, February 22). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 1 Edition: Morning.. Retrieved April 29, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74601749

Sgt-Major Frank Lloyd (son of Rev G.S. Lloyd, recently of Brunswick and Coburg). His death was last week at the 1^st Australian Casualty Clearing Station in France. ‘The deceased soldier was supply officer for some months at the military camp, Ascot Vale, and was very popular with his camp associates. He resigned his commission and enlisted as a private, and was making rapid advancement when his promising career was brought to a sudden close.

Brunswick and Coburg Leader, 23 Feb 1917, p.1.

In respect to the late Co. Sergt.-Major and Warrant Officer Frank Lloyd, his father, the Rev. G. S. Lloyd, of Essendon, has received the following letter from Major M. Lyons, commanding the 3rd Divisional Supply Column:-

"The passing away of your son, Warrant Officer Lloyd, yesterday, has cast a gloom over us all. Your son has been serving with me for over three years in Australia as a commissioned officer, where he did excellent work during a busy time, and here in France, as a senior non-commissioned officer, and afterwards as warrant officer, where he still continued to do his duty in his usual thorough and unobtrusive manner, which would, in a short time, have won him a commission, which he gave up on a former occasion in order to serve his country. He was a good soldier, a good comrade, and a good son."

ROLL OF HONOR. (1917, April 12). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2 Edition: Morning. Retrieved May 11, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74602249

Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiries Bureau Correspondence.

D/Disease 30/1/17

Frank Lloyd was a personal friend of mine and we left Australia together and remained together until his untimely death parted us.  Before we left England last year, while we were in training at Bath, he was taken ill with jaundice and was strongly advised by the doctor to go into hospital.  He would not, however, and was far from well at the date of sailing just a year ago and got up from a sick bed in order to embark.  His health over here seemed to improve, but after a while, he had a relapse and we were all alarmed to know he was admitted to hospital suffering from pneumonia.  He gradually became worse and died on January 31st of this year.  Every man in the unit attended the funeral, which was conducted by Capt Vale (?) Chaplain attached to 1st ACCS, and he was buried in a military cemetery under 1st Graves Registration unit BEF from whom you will be able to obtain the whereabouts and number of grave, Etc.  In our workshops we made a fine cross carved from oak and placed a chain railing round the grave with six carved oak posts.  We also had a large brass plate engraved with his name, number, unit etc & 0placed on on the cross.  The kind people with whom he was billeted who took a great fancy to him on account of his personality & true manhood, take great care of the grave, which I have seen several times since and which is always well-kept.  He was a great favourite with every man and NCO in the unit, and was known as a man and good Christian to all of us.  When we lost him, we all realised we had lost a good friend, who, nevertheless was always fearless and just when duty had to be done.

Witness: Oscar McKay 11849 S/Sgt  3rd D W Supply Column Nov 22nd/17

https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1043376--1-.pdf