1759 Private WILLIAMS Lloyd Ernest Cameron

55th Australian Infantry Battalion 2nd Reinforcements 

Lloyd was born at Red Bridge near Murrumburrah. The son of Mr John Williams and Mrs Elizabeth Sarah Williams nee Hobson. He was employed as a railway porter at Bowral.

Lloyd enlisted at Goulburn on 25 January 1916 at the stated age of 18 years 6 months. His next of kin was his Mother, Mrs E Simpson, of Redbridge near Murrumburrah. Lloyd’s Brother, 2751 Private WILLIAMS Charles Joseph, enlisted at Goulburn 13 May 1916 into 55th Battalion, 6th Reinforcements. Charles returned to Australia at the end of 1917, discharging from the Army 5 March 1918. 

Lloyd embarked at Sydney on the HMAT A40 Ceramic on 14 April 1916 spending a few months at the 14th Training Battalion in Southampton before arriving in Etables France on 9 August 1916 aboard the HMT Arcadian. Lloyd marched into the 55th Battalion on 6 October 1916. Lloyd was admitted to hospital with the mumps in January 1917 at Boulogne. This was the first of many visits to hospital at Etaples, Rouen and Havre, several for the treatment of pyoderma on his right toe. 

A Red Cross inquiry in 2018 confirmed Lloyd was killed in action on 28 September 1917 at Polygon Wood, Belgium. Witness 2388 Private CROKER J A, C Company, 55th Battalion stating: 

“I saw him killed by shell [28 September 1917] in a shell hole in Polygon Wood, death instantly. He came from Young. I knew his Brother in Goulburn Camp. I was with Lloyd Williams for 6 months same Coy. A single man, about 20. A very nice fellow.” 

Lloyds Medals, the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory were, contrary to traditions of the day, sent to his Mother, not his estranged Father, after intervention by local authorities. Known unto God. Lloyd is remembered at the Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of Ypres Salient), Belgium