Dudley Lloyd-Evans
Encyclopedia
Wing Commander Dudley Lloyd-Evans MC
DFC*
(1895-1972) was a Welsh-born soldier and flying ace
. After being decorated for his ground service during World War I, he transferred to aviation, was credited with eight official aerial victories, and again won military honours for his valour. He remained in the Royal Air Force until the end of the Second World War.
. By mid-1918, he had been posted to 64 Squadron as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot. He began a run of solo aerial victories on the last day of May 1918, when he destroyed a German Albatros D.V
fighter over La Bassée
. He scored the second time on 25 July 1918, destroying a Fokker D.VII
. Another fell under his guns on 21 August. Two days later, he destroyed a two-seater LVG
reconnaissance plane over Cantin
. On 3 September, he drove down a Fokker D.VII out of control for his fifth win, becoming an ace. Two days later, he drove another one down northeast of Cambrai
. On 18 September 1918, he capped his career as an ace by destroying one Fokker D.VII and driving another one down. His exploits won him a Distinguished Flying Cross, gazetted after war's end.
in the Royal Air Force on 24 October 1919. This commission was later confirmed as permanent.
He won a Bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross in lieu of a second award in 1921 for an aerial rescue sortie in Mesopotamia
.
On 1 October 1937, he was promoted to Squadron Leader
.
He married Margaret Ralston, daughter of Sir Harry Hope in 1939; the union made him proprietor of one of Scotland's historic old mansions, Kinnettles
House.
He then rose to the rank of temporary Wing Commander on 1 June 1940.
On 10 September 1945, he reverted to retirement, retaining the rank of Wing Commander.
Dudley Lloyd-Evans died on 20 March 1972 in Cheltenham, England. He was buried in Grave A80, St. Mary Magdalene's Churchyard, Boddington, Gloucestershire.
Temp. 2nd Lt. Dudley Lloyd Evans, South Wales Borderers
For conspicuous gallantry in action. He wired the portion of the enemy's intermediate line which was captured that night. Later, he led a bombing attack with great courage and initiative.
Lieut. (A./Capt.) Dudley Lloyd Evans, M.C. (South Wales Borderers). (FRANCE)
A brilliant fighting pilot who has carried out numerous offensive and low-bombing patrols with marked success. He has accounted for six enemy aeroplanes, and in these combats in the air he is conspicuous for dash, determination and courage.
Flying Officer Dudley Lloyd Evans, M.C., D.F.C., R.A.F.
For gallantry, skill and devotion to duty
on the 1st November 1920, while accompanying
another machine on reconnaissance.
Owing to engine trouble the second machine,
with pilot and observer, had to make a forced
landing in hostile country. A party of
mounted Arabs at once started firing at the
observer, who was dismantling a Lewis gun.
On seeing this, Flying Officer Evans landed
at great peril to himself, took both officers
his already loaded machine, and getting off
with much difficulty, returned to Headquarters.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
DFC*
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(1895-1972) was a Welsh-born soldier and flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
. After being decorated for his ground service during World War I, he transferred to aviation, was credited with eight official aerial victories, and again won military honours for his valour. He remained in the Royal Air Force until the end of the Second World War.
World War I
Dudley Lloyd-Evans began his military career in the Welsh Borderers during World War I. Nothing is known of his infantry service except that he won the Military Cross for gallantry in late 1916. He then switched to the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
. By mid-1918, he had been posted to 64 Squadron as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot. He began a run of solo aerial victories on the last day of May 1918, when he destroyed a German Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
fighter over La Bassée
La Bassée
La Bassée is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Heraldry:-History:La Bassée was the birthplace of the painter and draftsman Louis-Léopold Boilly .-References:*...
. He scored the second time on 25 July 1918, destroying a Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
. Another fell under his guns on 21 August. Two days later, he destroyed a two-seater LVG
LVG
Luftverkehrsgesellschaft m.b.H. was a German aircraft manufacturer based in Berlin-Johannisthal, which began constructing aircraft in 1912, building Farman-type aircraft. The company constructed many reconnaissance and light bomber biplanes during World War I.The raid on London in 1916 was...
reconnaissance plane over Cantin
Cantin
Cantin is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It is southeast of Douai.-Heraldry:-References:*...
. On 3 September, he drove down a Fokker D.VII out of control for his fifth win, becoming an ace. Two days later, he drove another one down northeast of Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
. On 18 September 1918, he capped his career as an ace by destroying one Fokker D.VII and driving another one down. His exploits won him a Distinguished Flying Cross, gazetted after war's end.
Post World War I
Lloyd-Evans was given a short service commission as a Flight LieutenantFlight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
in the Royal Air Force on 24 October 1919. This commission was later confirmed as permanent.
He won a Bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross in lieu of a second award in 1921 for an aerial rescue sortie in Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
.
On 1 October 1937, he was promoted to Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
.
He married Margaret Ralston, daughter of Sir Harry Hope in 1939; the union made him proprietor of one of Scotland's historic old mansions, Kinnettles
Kinnettles
Kinnettles is located in Angus, a Council Area in the northeast of Scotland. The Parish is bounded on the north and east by Forfar, on the southeast and south by Inverarity and the southwest and northwest by Glamis. The centre of the Parish is dominated by the oblong Brigton Hill whose steepest...
House.
He then rose to the rank of temporary Wing Commander on 1 June 1940.
On 10 September 1945, he reverted to retirement, retaining the rank of Wing Commander.
Dudley Lloyd-Evans died on 20 March 1972 in Cheltenham, England. He was buried in Grave A80, St. Mary Magdalene's Churchyard, Boddington, Gloucestershire.
Honours and awards
- Military Cross
Temp. 2nd Lt. Dudley Lloyd Evans, South Wales Borderers
For conspicuous gallantry in action. He wired the portion of the enemy's intermediate line which was captured that night. Later, he led a bombing attack with great courage and initiative.
- Distinguished Flying Cross
Lieut. (A./Capt.) Dudley Lloyd Evans, M.C. (South Wales Borderers). (FRANCE)
A brilliant fighting pilot who has carried out numerous offensive and low-bombing patrols with marked success. He has accounted for six enemy aeroplanes, and in these combats in the air he is conspicuous for dash, determination and courage.
- Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross
Flying Officer Dudley Lloyd Evans, M.C., D.F.C., R.A.F.
For gallantry, skill and devotion to duty
on the 1st November 1920, while accompanying
another machine on reconnaissance.
Owing to engine trouble the second machine,
with pilot and observer, had to make a forced
landing in hostile country. A party of
mounted Arabs at once started firing at the
observer, who was dismantling a Lewis gun.
On seeing this, Flying Officer Evans landed
at great peril to himself, took both officers
his already loaded machine, and getting off
with much difficulty, returned to Headquarters.
Reference
- Kidd, Charles, & Williamson, David, editors. Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage: Founded in 1769, Renamed Debrett in 1802. Debrett's Peerage, 1985. ISBN 0333378245, 9780333378243.