Gunner Charles Roger Lloyd Royal Artillery
Charles Roger Lloyd
The Man Charles Roger Lloyd (Charlie) was born on Wednesday 6th July 1921, at 44 Swan Street, Flint, Wales, son of Thomas George a Silk Spinner and Mary Elizabeth nee Bellis, he had one brother Thomas born in 1924.
Following his education, Charlie became a Galvaniser in a local Steel works and the 1939 Register shows him, now aged 18 living with his family at 227 Chester Road, Flint.
Following the start of World War II on 3rd September 1939, Charlie was called up and on 26th June 1941 enlisted at Towyn, into the Royal Artillery as a Gunner with service number 1817153. His religion was given as Congregational and he was described as 5’ 1½” tall, weighing 135lbs 36” chest, fresh complexion, brown eyes and black hair, his address corresponding with the 1939 register.
Charlie was posted to Singapore as part of the 3rd Battery 6th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment to bolster the defence of the island, but following fierce fighting and the surrender on 15th February 1942 was taken as a Prisoner of War of the Japanese. He was shipped to Thailand and forced to work on the infamous Burma Railway based at Camp MA in Tha Ma Kahm, Kanchanaburi.
Whilst he was a PoW he managed to send two post cards home, both undated and giving very basic details. Charlie succumbed to the harsh treatment meted out by the Japanese and was taken ill and transferred to the hospital at Chungkai Prison Camp, where on 5th October 1943 aged just 22 he died of Beri Beri Avitamin. He was buried in the camp, later a Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in plot 2.H.7.
On 15th December 1943, two months after his death, which was unbeknown to his parents, they received a letter form the Red Cross advising that Charlie was a prisoner of war in Japanese hands. They were initially advised he was at Osaka Camp in Japan, but later transferred to Thailand without any notification to the Allied authorities.
His parents received a further letter from War Office on 19th June 1945 advising them Charlie had died on 5th October 1943 of dysentery, although the records state Beri Beri. His family were paid 7/- voluntary allotment until 30th September 1945, £13.10s due from army funds and a balance of pay and allowances of £91.4s. His Pay Book was also returned to the family.
Charlie was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star and War Medal 1939-45 posthumously, which were sent to his mother in November 1949.
In addition Charlie was named on the grave of his Grandparents in Flint Cemetery and on a plaque now in the Flint Health Centre.
Following his education, Charlie became a Galvaniser in a local Steel works and the 1939 Register shows him, now aged 18 living with his family at 227 Chester Road, Flint.
Following the start of World War II on 3rd September 1939, Charlie was called up and on 26th June 1941 enlisted at Towyn, into the Royal Artillery as a Gunner with service number 1817153. His religion was given as Congregational and he was described as 5’ 1½” tall, weighing 135lbs 36” chest, fresh complexion, brown eyes and black hair, his address corresponding with the 1939 register.
Charlie was posted to Singapore as part of the 3rd Battery 6th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment to bolster the defence of the island, but following fierce fighting and the surrender on 15th February 1942 was taken as a Prisoner of War of the Japanese. He was shipped to Thailand and forced to work on the infamous Burma Railway based at Camp MA in Tha Ma Kahm, Kanchanaburi.
Whilst he was a PoW he managed to send two post cards home, both undated and giving very basic details. Charlie succumbed to the harsh treatment meted out by the Japanese and was taken ill and transferred to the hospital at Chungkai Prison Camp, where on 5th October 1943 aged just 22 he died of Beri Beri Avitamin. He was buried in the camp, later a Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in plot 2.H.7.
On 15th December 1943, two months after his death, which was unbeknown to his parents, they received a letter form the Red Cross advising that Charlie was a prisoner of war in Japanese hands. They were initially advised he was at Osaka Camp in Japan, but later transferred to Thailand without any notification to the Allied authorities.
His parents received a further letter from War Office on 19th June 1945 advising them Charlie had died on 5th October 1943 of dysentery, although the records state Beri Beri. His family were paid 7/- voluntary allotment until 30th September 1945, £13.10s due from army funds and a balance of pay and allowances of £91.4s. His Pay Book was also returned to the family.
Charlie was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star and War Medal 1939-45 posthumously, which were sent to his mother in November 1949.
In addition Charlie was named on the grave of his Grandparents in Flint Cemetery and on a plaque now in the Flint Health Centre.
1939-45 Star. Pacific Star. War Medal 1939-45.
The Story The medals awarded to Charles Roger Lloyd were won at a Noonan’s Auction on 9th April 2025. They were of interest as Charles had perished whilst working on the Burma Railway in 1943, a sub-theme of this collection. They were however, nearly lost as a bid had not been placed in advance and an attendance at a funeral made it impossible to check on their status. Thankfully the lot had not been reached by the end of the funeral.
With the lot came a large amount of related paperwork, including Charles’s Pay Book, a photograph, postcards sent by him to his family whilst a PoW and his brother, Thomas’s medals and Pay Book. All helping, together with Ancestry to build up a brief biography.
Also of interest was the fact Charles is named on the grave of his grandparents Annie and Roger Bellis in the local cemetery and also commemorated on a plaque now in the Flint Health Centre.
A biography was also put together for Thomas, however, his Medal Index Card does not show the award of the Defence Medal. Thomas seemingly worked at Courtalds in Aber as a Silk Worker, thus may have served in one of their related Civil Defence organisations, before enlisting into the Army in 1942, his time counting towards the award.
Charles’s grave was subsequently visited and a poppy cross laid in his memory.
With the lot came a large amount of related paperwork, including Charles’s Pay Book, a photograph, postcards sent by him to his family whilst a PoW and his brother, Thomas’s medals and Pay Book. All helping, together with Ancestry to build up a brief biography.
Also of interest was the fact Charles is named on the grave of his grandparents Annie and Roger Bellis in the local cemetery and also commemorated on a plaque now in the Flint Health Centre.
A biography was also put together for Thomas, however, his Medal Index Card does not show the award of the Defence Medal. Thomas seemingly worked at Courtalds in Aber as a Silk Worker, thus may have served in one of their related Civil Defence organisations, before enlisting into the Army in 1942, his time counting towards the award.
Charles’s grave was subsequently visited and a poppy cross laid in his memory.
Postcard sent by Charles to his patens whilt a PoW.
|
|
|
|
Charles Roger Lloyds Medal Award Certificate and Medal Index Card showing award of the 1939-45 and Pacific Stars and War Medal 1939-45.
Japanese Prisoner of War Index Card.
Plaque in Flint Healthcare Centre
|
Flint Cemetery. In Loving Memory of
ANNIE
BELOVED WIFE OF ROGER H BELLIS
32 DUKE ST FLINT
DIED MARCH 17TH 1922
“PEACE PERFECT PEACE”
ALSO THE ABOVE
ROGER HENRY BELLIS
DIED MARCH 16TH 1932, AGED 79 YEARS
“LABOUR ENDED JORDON PASSED”
ALSO TREASURED MEMORIES OF
GNR CHARLES ROGER LLOYD RA
THEIR GRANDSPN AND DEARLY BELOVED SON OF
T G AND M E LLOYD 227 CHESTER ROAD
WHO FELL ASLEEP IN A P.O.W. CAMP THAILAND
OCT 5TH 1943 AGED 22 YEARS
WORTHY OF EVERLASTING REMEMBRANCE
|
|
|
|
|
Chungkai Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Sunday 20th July 2025.
Charles Roger LLOYD is one of 26 soldiers in this collection who perished whilst working on the Burma Railaway and whose final resting place is Kanchanaburi or Chungkai Commonwealth War Cemeteries in Thailand or Thanbyuzayat in Myanmar. May their souls rest in eternal peace. Click on each name to read about:
- John AXON
- Thomas BURNS
- William James Johnstone BYERS
- Walter Richard COLBERT
- Percy Denis CORNWELL
- Joseph DUCKWORTH
- Kenneth Robert EYLAND
- Harold Edward EKE
- Charles Nevil Worton FOX
- Denys John HYDE
- George Sidney JOHNSON
- Stanley Richard LOVEDAY
- Myles McMANUS
- Raymond Ernest MADGETT
- Alfred Arthur MANNING
- John MARKS
- Horace Edgar MAXWELL
- James Gordon MITCHELL
- Edward John PHILLIPS
- George Edward RUDDICK
- Kenneth William SHIPP
- Harold Norman SPALDING
- Alfred Henry STEVENS
- Walter Leonard TAYLOR
- Henry Garnsey VEITCH
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Pacific Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
This page last updated 21 Jul 25
550a
