GEORGE ERNEST LLOYD

From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730

As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570

Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.

Image courtesy of Matteo.

Born: 12th November 1921, Ipswich.

Died: 15th November 1942; age: 21; MPK.

Residence: 91, Victoria Street, Ipswich.

Rank: Air Mechanic (O) 1st Class; Service Number: FAA/SFX. 941.

Regiment: Royal Navy, H.M.S. ‘Avenger’

Memorial Reference:

Bay 3, Panel 5.

Lee-on-Solent Memorial,

Hampshire.

Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Ernest David & Violet Elsie Lloyd, of Ipswich.

Father: Ernest David Lloyd, born 1888, Bentley, Suffolk. A Taxi Proprietor and Driver.

Mother: Violet Elsie Lloyd (nee Reid), born December 1898, West Bergholt, Essex.

H.M.S. ‘Avenger’   15th November 1942.

H.M.S. ‘Avenger’ was built by the Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Company, Chester, Pennsylvania. She was originally launched in November 1940 as an American motor passenger liner, ‘Rio Hudson’. She was loaned to the UK under the Lend-Lease programme. Within a year, H.M.S. ‘Avenger’ was renovated for the Royal Navy and converted to an auxiliary aircraft carrier capable of carrying 15 aircraft. On the 22nd October 1942, H.M.S ‘Avenger’ left  Clyde, Scotland, to participate in Operation Torch – the Allied Invasion of  North Africa. After leaving North Africa to start her journey home, H.M.S ‘Avenger’ was hit by one torpedo by the German submarine U-155 (Kapitanleutnant Adolf Piening) at 3.20 am, west of Gibraltar. The torpedo ignited her bomb load and blew out the centre section of the ship.  She sank in less than 3 minutes – 516 lives lost, 12 rescued.

A second Ipswich man, ALBERT EDWIN HURLE