David Rhys Cadwgan Lloyd was a pupil at Oakham School until the start of the First World War when he immediately joined up. He fought in the army and was wounded in 1916 before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps and returned to France in April 1917 with 60 Squadron. Combat claims from 1916-1918 gave him three "victories." On the afternoon of 11 May 1917, flying a Nieuport B1610 DD he destroyed an Albatros at Ecourt-St. Quentin. On 15 June flying the same Nieuport he destroyed an Albatros D00C at 2100 hours. He died the following day over Marquion. He was last seen following an enemy aircraft down to 2,000 feet and his Nieuport collided with an Albatros flown by Vfw Robert Riessinger of Jasta 12. Both pilots were killed. David's Commanding Officer wrote: Everyone liked your son immensely; he was a fine and fearless pilot - almost the best in the squadron - and an undeniable fighter. I miss him dreadfully." David was the son of Llewellyn and Annie G Lloyd, of The Yew Trees, Kirby-le-Soken, Essex. He was the 22nd in direct male descent from Belddyn ap Cynfyn, Prince of Powys and North Wales. He is buried in HAC Cemetery Ecoust-St Mein on the Somme, grave VIII.B.8. and is remembered in Oakham School Chapel as well as on the Kirby-le-Soken war memorial and on a family memorial in the town's church.
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