Ystalyfera Fallen

This is the memorial page for Albert Lloyd, native of Ystalyfera, killed during the First World War.

The information on Albert Lloyd comes principally from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, from the Labour Voice newspaper, and the Parish Burial Register (courtesy of the Swansea Archives).

From the Labour Voice newspaper, 27th November 1915:-

Mr Albert V Lloyd, who has been in the office of "Llais Llafur" for the past 6 years, left on Monday last to enlist in the Somerset Light Infantry. He journeyed to Taunton where he will spend a few days in barracks before going to Davenport. In a short communication Private Lloyd says:
"Several Swansea Valley boys came here from Swansea with me and the first man I spoke to on entering the barracks was a man from Morriston, so I do not seem so far away after all".

From the Labour Voice newspaper, 26th February 1916:-

Private A V Lloyd (formerly of the staff of "The Labour Voice") who is in the Somerset Light Infantry, now training in Plymouth, was spending the last weekend at his old home. Although he has only been in training for three months he expects to be sent to the front shortly.

From the Labour Voice newspaper, 3rd June 1916:-

A letter has been received this week from Mr A V Lloyd, formerly on the staff of this paper, in which he states that he has been promoted and is now a lance corporal. He has been for some time at Grantham being trained on the machine guns and is now a no 1 man on the gun. He expects shortly to be drafted to France, as "new boots and gas helmets have been served out".

From the Labour Voice newspaper, 5th May 1917:-

Corporal Albert V Lloyd of the Machine Gun Corps (formerly of Llais staff) has been suffering from a septic toe and general debility. He writes a cheerful letter but will evidently be glad when the war is over and he can return to civil life.

From the Labour Voice newspaper, 20th October 1917:-

We regret to announce that official news has been received from the War Office of the death in action of Lance Corporal Bertie Lloyd, M.G.C., on 20th September in the big advance that took place that day in the Ypres sector. Deceased, who enlisted in November 1915 and had been in France since May of last year, was engaged at the office of "The Labour Voice" and had lived as an apprentice (coming from Muller's Orphanage in Bristol) with Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Rees at Glanyronen, for the previous six years. He was a quiet, thoughtful and industrious lad; and when war broke out expressed his determination to join the army as soon as he was old enough. He was a member of the English Congregational Church, and his death is very deeply mourned by his friends and acquaintances.

From the Labour Voice newspaper, 27th October 1917 :-

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During the service at the English Congregational Church on Sunday evening the 'Dead March' in Saul was played by the organist, Miss Phyllis Jones. All the congregation standing in memory of the late Corporal Bertie Lloyd of the M G C, who as reported in our last issue, was killed in action in France in the heavy fighting in September.

As a member of the English Congregational Church, Ystalyfera, as well as being remembered on the memorial plaque that was erected there, Albert Victor Lloyd was one of the men mentioned in The Fallen of the English Congregational Church in World War One, a speech given in 1935 by John Bell, for 28 years Treasurer of the English Congregational Church.