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Auction: 22002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 200

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant

The Great War M.C. group of five awarded to Captain R. P. Loyd, 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, who was killed in action at the Battle of Cambrai on 1 December 1917 - he had previously twice been wounded in action with the 1/1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. R. P. Loyd. Herts. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. R. P. Loyd.); Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Reginald Percy Loyd), traces of adhesive to reverse of M.C., otherwise nearly extremely fine, housed in an old frame with Buckingham Palace Scroll in the name of 'Capt. Reginald Percy Loyd 'M.C.' Coldstream Guards' and forwarding letter (Lot)

M.C. London Gazette 17 December 1917. The citation followed on 23 April 1918:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in leading his men through a very heavy barrage. When the enemy counter-attacked, he displayed great initiative, and formed a defensive flank under most difficult conditions.'

Reginald Percy Loyd was born at Chelsea on 20 June 1895, youngest son of Mr. E. Henry Loyd and the Hon. Mrs. E. Henry Loyd, of Langleybury, King's Langley, Hertfordshire and a grandson of the 2nd Lord Lurgan.

Loyd was educated at Eton and served in France with the 1/1st Hertfordshire Regiment (Territorial Force) from 18 March 1915. Wounded in action during the Battle of Festubert on 18-19 May 1915, he returned to the Front and was again wounded in action on 19 July 1916, this time being wounded in the left arm.

Recovered once again, Loyd joined the 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, a regiment in which his elder brother Henry was also serving. Loyd was commanding a Company when taken into action at Bourlon Wood in late November 1917. Without any assistance from tanks or the artillery, the 3rd Battalion re-took Gouzeaucourt near Cambrai. He would be killed in action on 1 December 1917 near Gonnelieu and never lived to see the richly-deserved M.C. that he had earned. His death was reported in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine:

'The news of the death of Captain Percy Loyd on December 1st was received with the greatest regret by all in the Parish, and deep sympathy is felt with Mr and Hon. Ms Loyd. At the beginning of the War he joined the Herts Regiment, and later was transferred to the Coldstream Guards, the officers of which speak in the highest terms of his capabilities and bravery. He died a noble death, leading his company against a hail of bullets, to drive the Germans back after they had broken through at Gouzeaucourt. The Guards had been in it at Bourlon Wood, and were on their way to rest when the catastrophe occurred, and they were hurled into another part of the line at half an hour's notice. He was hit high in the thigh and died in a few seconds.'

A large memorial service was held at Langleybury Parish Church, which was entirely decorated with white flowers. Loyd is buried in the Metz-en-Couture Communal Cemetery British Extension, a large memorial at St Paul's Church, Langleybury and at Eton College, St Mary's, Reigate and on the Borough of Reigate Memorial.

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Sold for
£4,200

Starting price
£1100