b. 01/01/1854 County Roscommon, Ireland. d. 05/07/1941 St Leonards on Sea, Sussex.
Sir Owen Edward Pennefather Lloyd (1854-1941) was born on 1st January 1854, son of Major M. Pennefather Lloyd, 59th Regiment, who hailed from County Roscommon, Ireland. He was educated at Fermoy College, Cork, and at Queen’s University, Cork. He obtained three degrees of LRCS, LRCP and LM at Edinburgh University. He enlisted with the Army Medical Service in 1878, and served throughout the Zulu Wars of 1879, and was present at the attack and capture of Sekukani’s stronghold in the Transvaal War of 1881-1882.
Sir Owen E P Lloyd
VC KCB
Little is known of his career between the end of the Transvaal War and the Kachin Expedition of 1892-93, where he was present during the assault on Fort Sima, which ultimately would lead to the award of the Victoria Cross.
On 6th January 1893, while the attack was progressing on the Fort, Surgeon Major Lloyd went, with the aid of an Indian NCO called Matab Singh, to a commanding officer (Captain Morton) who was wounded. Lloyd then stayed with the officer whilst Matab Singh went back to fetch further help so Morton could be carried. Sadly, despite successfully carrying Morton back to the fort, he died a few minutes later. Throughout the action the enemy were within 15 paces of Lloyd, keeping up a heavy fire, and Lloyd was wounded.
Lloyd was gazetted for the VC on 2nd January 1894, and was presented with his medal on 24th March 1894 by Brigadier-General George Bird in Mandalay, Burma. He married Florence, daughter of Captain and Lady Morgan of Bridestown House, County Cork, and they had a son and a daughter. He then became Medical Officer to the Franco-British Boundary Commission on the Burma Frontier, 1898-1899.
He then became the Principal Medical Officer to the Bareilly Brigades in India, and Honourable Surgeon to the Viceroy of India. He then became a Principal Medical Officer in South Africa. He was created a Companion of Bath in 1910, and retired in 1913. Following his retirement, he enjoyed field sports, and had a reputation as a big game hunter. He eventually settled on the south coast, where he died in St Leonards on Sea, Sussex on 5th July 1941. He was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, West London. His medals are held and displayed at the Museum of Military Medicine, Keogh Barracks, Mytchett, Surrey.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: MUSEUM OF MILITARY MEDICINE, KEOGH BARRACKS, ALDERSHOT.
BURIAL PLACE: KENSAL GREEN CEMETERY, LONDON.
SQUARE 188, ROW 3, GRAVE 44252
Acknowledgement:
Thomas Stewart – Image of the Lloyd VC Medal Group at the RAMC Museum, Keogh Barracks.