Name
Noel John (Jack) Lloyd
Conflict
Second World War
Date of Death / Age
30/06/1942
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Pilot Officer
47476
Royal Air Force
296 Sqdn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HITCHIN CEMETERY
West Extn. Grave 725.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
HIS BROTHER PILOT OFFICER ARTHUR EDWARDS LLOYD WAS LOST ON AIR OPERATIONS. 1ST NOVEMBER 1941 AGE 27
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Hitchin Roll of Honour 1939 – 1945 (Book) St Mary’s Church, Hitchin, Hitchin Boys’ Grammar School Memorial (WW2)
Biography
He had attended St. Mark's Hitchin Preparatory School before attending the Hitchin Grammar School from 1928-1936. At school he was a keen Wolf Cub and later senior patrol leader in the school Scout Troop. After taking the School Certificate, he went into the sixth form and on leaving went to the Cheadle Textile Company in Staffordshire which made artificial silk and where he became an Assistant Departmental Manager. It was said that his twinkling eyes and bubbling fun concealed a strong sense of responsibility.
He enlisted early in the war into the Royal Artillery, training on howitzers and as a signaller. After eighteen months, he took an opportunity to transfer to the R.A.F. and in 1941 was an A.C.2 at an Initial Training Wing. Later he was commissioned after obtaining his wings in November 1941 and posted to 296 Squadron with the Service Number 47476. At the time of his death the Squadron was based at Netheravon about ten miles north of Salisbury.
His death was the result of an accident in the West of England, though the circumstances have not been discovered. The funeral service was in St. Mary's Church, Hitchin.
The years shown on the Commonwealth War Graves stone situated 725 West Extension in Hitchin Cemetery have been transposed, as it reads "Pilot Officer N.J. Lloyd Pilot R.A.F. 30th June 1941 age 22. His Brother Pilot Officer Arthur Edward Lloyd was lost on air operations 1st November 1942 age 27".
From April 1942 he had been engaged to be married to Miss Paddy Edith Neville of Headingham, Oxford. He was the younger son of Arthur Edward and Mary Lloyd of 12, Nuns Close, Hitchin, his father being the Registrar of Births and Deaths and Relieving Officer of Hitchin. He also had a sister.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines – ‘Hitchin’s Century of Sacrifice’, Hitchin Grammar School Chronicle, Hitchin Grammar School Registers, Herts & Beds Express dated 4th July 1942, Herts Pictorial dated 7th July 1942
