Wilfrid Lewis Lloyd

Major-General Wilfrid Lewis Lloyd CBE, DSO, MC (1896–1944) was an officer in the British Army and the Indian Army during World War I and World War II.

World War I
Lloyd was commissioned into the 7th Shropshire Light Infantry and fought with the regiment until 1916, winning an MC. In 1916 he transferred to the Indian Army and was attached to 4th / 39th Garwhal Rifles. He was later to join the 19th Hyderabad Regiment.

World War II
In July 1940, Brigadier Lloyd was appointed to the 5th Indian Brigade of the 4th Indian Infantry Division and commanded them in the Western Desert Campaign, the East African Campaign and the Syria-Lebanon campaign. In the Western Desert, Lloyd's forces were involved in the opening stages of Operation Compass. In East Africa, forces under Lloyd's command were involved in the Battle of Agordat and the Battle of Keren. In Syria, he commanded for a period Gentforce. This was a combined British, Indian, and Free French force attacking towards Damascus.

From October 1941 to March 1943, during the Burma Campaign, Major-General Lloyd commanded the 14th Indian Infantry Division. The Division was defeated during the First Arakan Offensive and Lloyd was removed from command. Most of his contemporaries nevertheless considered he was not responsible for the defeat.

From July 1943 to January 1944 Major-General Lloyd commanded the 10th Indian Infantry Division in Persia. He was killed in an air crash in 1944.

Command history

 * General Staff Officer, Division - 1939
 * Commanding Officer, 5th Indian Infantry Brigade, North Africa - 1940
 * Commanding Officer, 5th Indian Infantry Brigade, East Africa - (1940–1941)
 * Commanding Officer, 5th Indian Infantry Brigade, North Africa and Syria - 1941
 * Director of Military Training, India - (1941–1942)
 * General Officer Commanding, 14th Indian Infantry Division - (1941–1943)
 * General Officer Commanding, 10th Indian Infantry Division - (1943–1944)