Colonel Ian Cordon-Lloyd - The Royal Green Jackets Association Contacts Board

Date: Mar 10, 2006

Colonel Ian Cordon-Lloyd

Date: Mar 10, 2006

Darren.

If you could give your Second name than i am sure you will get the help that you need.

If you go to the In The News you will see a transcript written by lee Massey and Tim M regarding the incident of Gordon-Lloyd.

Hope this helps you and best of luck.

Date: Mar 14, 2006

If you write to RHQ, RGJ I am sure that they would be able to help you particularly as Colonel Ian 's son is currently serving in the Regiment

Date: Mar 17, 2006

Colonel Cordon-Lloyd

Every once in a while (although in the Green Jackets it happens more often) a true leader rises to the surface. I had the distict pleasure of serving under the leadership Of then Major Cordon-Lloyd.

A man of distict clarity, compassion, calm and focus. He was one of the very few that his men would follow no matter where he would lead. I remember on many occasion how he would walk through a scary situation and bring calm and strength to those who were in need of the reasurance. I remember charging into divis flats, running across the open ground with bottles and rounds flying and Mr. Cordon-Lloyd shouting "keep pushing" he was right on my shoulder as we ran across the parking lot, up stairs that were barracaded returning fire to a bunch of Yahoos firing at us with a couple of Thompsons. I was lucky enough to have been picked as one of two of his lead scouts. Oh God those were the days!

I will never forget this outstanding officer. If you had the opportunity to meet him then you and I are a few of the lucky ones.

Swift and Bold.

Date: Jul 2, 2006

i served under this grest man in 1978 and was in 2 rgj in ireland when he was killed, a great loss of an even greater man.

I have one photo of him that i treasure and if you send me your e address i will send

Doug (tiny) adams 2 RGJ

newforestexecutivetravel@yahoo.co.uk

Date: May 4, 2007

Your Father was a Soldier's Soldier. He would not expect his troops to anything that he would not be prepared to do himself. You should be proud of your father.
Best wishes from a fellow Green Job.
Cpl C J Bedden ex 2 RGJ (1972-1994)

Date: Aug 11, 2007

I SERVED UNDER COLONEL IAN AND WAS ON THE NORTHERN IRELAND TOUR AS A PLATOON COMMANDER ALTHOUGH I WAS A SGT AT THE TIME. HE WAS OVER A FIREFIGHT THAT HAD BROKEN OUT WHEN FIRE FROM THE NATIVES CAUSED THE PILOT TO EXECUTE AS I UNDERTAND IT AN ILLEGAL MANOUEVRE AND CRASHED. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT HIT AND THE PILOT SURVIVED BECAUSE HE HAD A HELMET ON THAT WAS LITERALLY HOLDING THE WEIGHT OF THE OVERTURNED HELICOPTER ON HIS HEAD THAT WAS ON THE GROUND UNFOTUNATELY COLONEL IAN DID NOT SURVIVE. I FINISHED MY TIME AS A SERGEANT MAJOR WITH 3 ARMY AIR CORPS AND THE SAME PILOT WAS IN THIS UNIT AND DIED WHEN HE CRASHED ANOTHER HELICOPTER. I HOLD THE GREATEST RESPECT FOR COLONEL IAN HE TRULY STOOD OUT AS A REMARKABLE OFFICER AND MANY HELD THE VIEW THAT HE WAS HEADED FOR THE TOP

Date: Jul 10, 2008

Col. Corden-Lloyd (MC, OBE) was also my CO. He was killed in South Armagh, Feb 17th 1978 - I know this exactly, as it was the day before my birthday, and I was part of the C coy cordon. As has been previously mentioned, he was a soldiers soldier. I remember once standing in a porta-loo when he came in to answer the 'call' - I turned away and he said, "Don't worry lad, I've got one as well"
I have some paper clippings/photos of him if you would like copies?

Date: Jan 24, 2009

hi,i dont know you but you have the wrong facts concerning the death of Col,I,Corden-Lloyd,he was in the chopper to follow up reports of a shooting incident at jonesbourgh along the border with 2rgj cop pl,the chopper went down due to pilot error,there was the pilot,the col,and the cop pl platoon commander,i know as i was there that day as part of the cop pl,a sad loss to all rifleman,

Date: Apr 3, 2009

Colonel Corden-lloyd commanded 2RGJ in Gibraltar. He took over from Lt Col (as was) David Ramsbotham in late 1976 (I think) and commanded the battalion until his death in South Armagh.

I was TQMS at the time and remember him as a brilliant CO and a very special bloke. He was liked and respected for his leadership and professionalism by everyone. He led from the front all the time. He had the entire battalion run over the dreaded Mediteranean Steps (not an easy climb for about 3 miles over the top of the rock) and was first over himself.

He kept the battalion on the go with a wicked Bramall Trophy and a battalion training session in Norfolk and took a really first class battalion to Ulster after our retrurn, as a result.

I have served under top notch COs all my service but Ian Corden LLoyd was the best of all.

Date: Aug 30, 2010

i will second that ,top man,i was on that cordon that day,i still remember his pre armagh speech to us all,and as mentioned an easy guy to follow,he made a lot of wary young soldiers believe in each other,his presence when we were mortared at forkhill was awesome,check out the archive pictures,i was on that cordon with kenny pett"as the colonel took charge,still in our thoughts,couldnt believe he was not a scouser though!!!rest in peace.

Date: Sep 5, 2010

Far be it from me to praise the actions of the british, but as a very young lad growing up in Andersonstown I remember Major Lloyd serving there in roughly 1972/73?, as far as i recall there was a Major Gamble as well.
At a time when it was imperative for children such as myself, from staunch Republican backgrounds to despise the british army and anything attached to it, I distinctly recall both Major Lloyd and Gamble (I may have their ranks wrong at the time, neither am I positive they were both in the RGJ either-but the names are definite) were instrumental in securing the funding for a play park and two football pitches beside were I lived. I know their roles in this for certain as they liased with my father who, whilst being an Irish Republican, was also involved in community work at the time.
I'd imagine that it was nigh on impossible to achieve funding or the building of any leisure facitily in West Belfast at that time, the unionist/protestant/loyalist controlled council would simply not have accepted it, so without the lobbying and insistence of both Mjr Lloyd and Gamble I doubt we'd have had it, they recognised the distinct lack of facilities for children growing up in, what was at that time a social and economically deprived area and according to my father were genuine in seeking to help change that, they were sincerely opposed to the discrimination and bigotry practised by the unionist regime, it is such a shame that their government sought to nurture rather than dismantle it.
I believe that although there was much animosity (to put it mildly) against the british army at the time, these two soldiers had the respect of many in our community, including Republican militants.
By the way, we had great fun in the play park as children-both it and the pitches are still used daily... So all credit to the gentleman you all speak so highly of, a little part of something he helped achieve has brought happiness to many, many thousands of people over the years!!

Date: Sep 20, 2010

Well done George,I was out on the hills that day and our section was one of the first there but could do nothing to assist,As far as I can remember the colonel lead from the front as all green jackets do but he was a true rifleman

Date: Oct 3, 2010

I was present on Monday, 16 January 1978 following the mortar attack and booby-trap explosion in the lorry used for the attack on Forkhill. Lt Col Corden-Lloyd helped to remove an injured police officer from the remains of the lorry cab and found a weak pulse. This officer was then placed onto a door, used as a stretcher, and placed into a Puma helicopter to be taken to hospital. Amazingly the same officer was sitting up in hospital a week later.

On Friday, 17 February 1978 I was operating with a colleague in the Edenappa, Jonesborough, Killeavy area. The first thing we had on our list of to-do's that afternoon was to collect 16 members of a RGJ patrol that had been mistakenly dropped over the border by a Puma. We recovered the members of the patrol and their bergans in fours and brought them to Killeavy. I think this patrol was led by sergeant John Hand. After completion of this task we made our way to the Edenappa Road which leads from Jonesborough to the border. A forest behind a stone wall bounds this road. to the east. From behind this wall terrorists commenced shooting at COP team members concealed further up the road nearer to Jonesborough itself. We and the COP team undoubtedly made contact reports and requested assistance. A short time later a Gazelle AH 1 helicopter XX404 of 657 Squadron AAC arrived in the area. I don't recall the pilots name but the passengers were Lt Colonel Ian Corden-Lloyd, front left seat, and if I remember correctly, in the rear was Captain Schofield. Firing was heavy and continual, especially after the helicopter's arrival. It carried out a fast, evasive manouevre during which it appeared to stall and hit the ground. It then bounced, hit a stone wall, and landed in another field on its right side. My colleague and I rushed to the scene and found the helicopter as described. The area round it was covered in aviation fuel, debris and live rounds of ammunition that had spilled from the weapons carried on board. The pilot was underneath trapped by the battery pack but protected by his helmet. Lt Colonel Corden-Lloyd was still straped in his seat with his head lying to the right. Captain Schofield had been catapulted from the rear and had a deep wound to the centre of his forehead. He was immediately removed to the cover a ditch a few feet from the crash site. Please remember two things at this time: 1. Myself and colleague were in civilian clothes; and 2. Neither the terrorists or COP team members knew who we were therefore it is likely that both were firing upon us as we attempted to rescue injured personnel from the wreck. Shortly after this a Wessex helicopter arrived. I assisted to remove the Colonel from his seat and carried him to the ditch were medical staff were assessing injuries. I believe the Colonel was in fact already dead from his injuries when we arrived on the scene. Colleagues lifted the main wreckage of the helicopter whilst I went underneath to unstrap the pilot's helmet. He was then pulled free from the wreckage and taken for treatment. Following the crash firing continued along the border as the terrorists extracated themselves. At approximately 0200 the following morning myself and colleague went to Bessbrook Mill to brief the GOC and Chief Constable on the circumstances of the incident. We then returned to the crash site and remained on duty until late on the evening of the 18th when the aircraft remains had been recovered to Aldergrove for examination.

Date: Nov 23, 2010

Steve, I don't know who you are but your report looks very possible. Were you RUC or from Portadown and wounded in the butt during the C coy mortar attack?
I have no recollection of the incident, but the pilot's name was Sgt Brian Ives; he was killed about 5 years later in a helicopter in the Pyrenees.
The RMO was Capt Chris Box, and I understand the ARF comprised a 4 man ptl from 2LI, Ballykinler. The COP sect comd was Sgt Fred Ramsden. The last thing I remember was briefing the incoming Bn 2ic the week before, and patrolling through Jonesboro on Sat Feb11 to pick up photos and waste from the OP and meeting a casual contact in the village.
It took me a long time (about a month) to recover full consciousness, and I've had diplopia (double vision) ever since : I suffered a number of injuries, including breaking my back, and was very lucky to be able to continue to serve. I retired as a Lt Col in 2008, and I've spent most of the last 20 years in C Asia, the Caucasus and Russia, although I was in S America in 82.
I hope you can get in touch.
Philip Schofield

Date: Nov 23, 2010

philip@philip23.wanadoo.co.uk

Date: Dec 29, 2010

You could contact his son, Major Nicholas Cordon-Lloyd through the British Army or through the Museum in Winchester.

Date: Jan 28, 2011

I see that Ray Handley is still a cheeky scally! biggrin

Date: Mar 7, 2011

Since I last wrote, I have been through the Board of Inquiry Report and requested and received from archive the radio logs and 2RGJ INTSUMs covering the period leading up to the incident. It was the first time I read them, and Im surprised now at the high level of hostile activity against us in 1978.

I still have no recollection at all of that day, and Im not sure I want to. I regret most of all not only the death of Colonel Iain, whom we all respected and adored, but the sudden cutting off of the relationships I had with my riflemen, for whom I would have given my life, and the majority of whom I never saw again. My memories of each of them are still brilliantly clear.

I am sure that what Col Iain wanted to do that day was to fight as part of Fred Ramsdens patrol and enable him to get to grips with the enemy. That was the commitment of his extraordinary leadership.

I understand from the then Adjt, Hugh Willing, Colonel Iain was due to fly home for his R&R the following morning 18 Feb (now he had a 2ic for the first time). Jane CL did later remarry but was tragically widowed for a second time. She accepted my request and I had the privilege of accompanying her to the Op BANNER Memorial Service in Saint Pauls last year. We did it together for Col Iain.

I saw Pussy Felix, all too briefly, at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas. If anyone can reconnect me with any members of the 2RGJ COP, particularly the rfn, I would be very grateful.

Philip Schofield
philip@philip23.wanadoo.co.uk

Date: Jul 26, 2011

I served as a Gazelle helicopter pilot at the end of 1977 and early 1978, often flying LtCol Corden-Lloyd around the RGJ operating area of S Armagh . He was a real go getter, and seemed well respected by his men. I recall landing inside the compound at Forkill dropping off the Col. and then lifting out quickly, a few seconds later mortar rounds exploded within the compound !! A close shave. The pilot of the Gazelle that crashed, killing the Col. was indeed Brian Ives, a fellow member of REME. I have a few anecdotes about Brian, but the censor would probably delete them.!!! I survived being machine gunned at Crossmaglen, the same time that Andy McNab was there.

Date: Aug 13, 2011

i met major lloyd for the first time when the rgj shot a 19 year old girl outside my family home in andersonstown in 1972.my door was kicked in by squaddies looking for the f..king gunman but when they found out they had shot an innocent civillian promt medicial attention was on hand from the rjg. it did not stop the house being turned over by the rgj but when the big man arrived, major lloyd himself ,he personally searched the house and upon seeing my younger 13 year old brother he said the next time that he seen him throwing stones at his men he would kick his rear end. thank god he did not remember me. he apologised to my mother whose nerves where shattered, and got the medic to give her a seditive. any time he passed the house after the incident he always said hello to my mother. it did not stop the house being raided by the green jackets in further weeks but as the british army go he was a real officer and a gentalman. we used to call him 'john wayne' because he always carried a sidearm along with his s.l.r. as an irish republician i took no pleasure in hearing of his death in 1978. foot note, when the house search was finished that night i breathed a sigh of relief because the only place that was not searched was under my bed and thats where my riot shield was, compliments of the rgj at casment park. i have to say that my memories of the rgj where not happy ones even though they where happy to take one of my dogs pups but this is about the big man, major lloyd, swift and bold he was.

Date: Oct 1, 2011

Be good to hear you stories on Brian Ives as he was my father.

ivesrachael@aol.com smile

Date: Oct 28, 2011

Hi Chaps

I was in the officers mess kitchen that afternoon (Feb 17th) cooking the evening meal, a horrible, horrible day for the whole of 2rgj.

Col Ian was a true gent and officer, if you went to see him in his office, his first words were, sit down and relax, he was one of us and totaly respected by all who met him or served under him, a man that would of gone to the very top.

RIP Col Ian

PS i was called combat Cookie because i would finish my shift in the kitchen then volenteer to go out on patrol for 4hrs.

I now live in Bournemouth and semi retired, i am also Secretary of a local Sea fishing club and also take part in local SSAFA fund raising fishing events.

If any one wants to get intouch my email addy is

Paul.Smith@boscombepierseaanglers.co.uk

Date: Dec 28, 2011

I served under Colonel Ian Cordon-Lloyd in Gibraltar and South Armagh and having just come across this post. I just wanted to add that he was a fine leader and as a serving soldier he was so inspirational, a great leader and always had plenty of time for his men, and I am glad he is so fondly remembered.

Philip Scofield was one of my Platoon Commanders when I was in training in Winchester, and I just managed to bump into him in Tidworth before leaving the Army in 1979.

The Picture of the Mortar incident, ie. the lorry before it exploded turned up some years later in Sterling lines where many a good soldier serving under Colonel Ian Cordon-Lloyd moved on to.

My memories of Ian was he always led from the very front, and never asked his men to do anything he could not do himself.

lenchappell@ntlworld.com

Date: Feb 20, 2012

I remember the day well for reasons i wont go in to .I allso recall the attack on forkhill and hearing the good Colonel speaking on the tv news calling the attack cowardly. what did he expect ?Is it ok for british army to murder school girls like Majella O Hare in South Armagh and not expect some sort of come back.I would like to know why the army was in Jonesbourgh in the first place .May be they were spying on the funeral of the local priest that took place that morning.I would allso like to know why one other fact seems to have been left out about the Colonel .He was also in another helicopter crash shortly before the one in jonesbourgh .In that crash two brits were died but he walked away with out injury. May be his time was up but i think its down to bad training of the pilots as the pilot in the jonesbourgh died in another crash after

Date: May 14, 2012

Hello I was part of the 3 man ARF from Bessbrook and was in the Scout helicopter escorting the Gazelle when Lt Col Cordon-Lloyd was killed. We were 13Pl, Delta Coy. 2LI attached to 2RGJ. I was the radio op, Cpl John Speight was the commander and Pte Josh Lay**** was the GPMG gunner. We were over the firefight between the 2RGJ COP and PIRA when we watched as the Gazelle suddenly swung up and to the left to avoid a stream of tracer from across the border. I watched as the Gazelle hit the ground, bounced over a road and two stone walls and, as I remember, came to rest on its roof/rotor. We hover jumped out of the Scout and were the first blokes on the ground and were alone there for over ten minutes. I couldn't get help on the radio as the AVGAS melted the mouthpiece of the A41 radio! The Col was dead and Capt Schofield and the pilot were hanging upside down in their harness, both badly injured. We had been banned from carrying knives on our webbing a few days before and so had great difficulty getting them both out of the aircraft. We had to take cover a couple of times as the fire from PIRA was pretty intense and we couldn't fire back due to the amount of AVGAS around us. After a while the rest of 13Pl arrived on a Wessex and we managed to Casevac all three wounded/dead men. The next day I was still on the ARF and was on the ground as the Gazelle was recovered and flown clear. I was the first "Halfer" to instruct at the Rifle Depot/Peninsula Bks (82-84) and met both George Coney and Capt Schofield there and had a chat about that eventful day.

Date: Oct 23, 2012

I still remember the day, me and the medic lifted the stretcher out of the puma? and started running towards the ambulance then the medic said put the stretcher down his gone.Wanted to try and resuscitate him but if i remember right we had another one in the chopper, still can`t get the thought and picture the head. (Heard the Colonel was a good officer) It was a bad day for alot of people "Sorry" maybe i could have done more don`t know.

Date: Aug 22, 2018

I'm a bit late but I've only just discovered this post/thread.

[Paul Yardley (.9421) 9 Platoon, C Company, 2nd Bn Royal Green Jackets, 1973-1979].

Over forty years on, the following is a brief account (from my fading memory) of what happened on the 17th February 1978, and is not a verbatim of my Witness Statement which I provided/appeared before the Air Investigation Team, and later in a Court of Law (Belfast).

On said day I was section commander of a four man patrol (Call Sign: 31 Delta). At around mid-afternoon I was tasked to set up an OP on the high ground overlooking the Irish border (between a scrap yard and Jonesborough).

On arrival and looking for a suitable OP (in open ground) we were engaged in a heavy and lengthy contact/firefight. From over a mile away one of my Riflemen identified what he believed was the terrorist(s) firing position (in a tree-line along and in front of the Irish border). After a period of time and a large number of spent rounds (and while rounds were still going off around the area, but not directed at our OP), I gave a follow-up sit-rep to Zero at Forkhill.

After we had stopped firing, a Gazzelle helicopter approached from our right (south heading north). Whilst passing to our front (as we were looking down hill), I heard a "crack-n-thump" and a flash of blue-light coming from the area of the Gazzelles engine and rota blades. The Gazzelle suddenly went nose-up and tumbled to, and along the ground, eventually resting on its side. We were told to stay in position and give cover. Later we bugged-out and headed back to Forkhill where I debriefed the Company Commander and others on the events leading up to the Gazzelles downing.

At the time and as an eye witness, I believed, and still believe the Colonels Gazelle was hit by a terrorist sniper.

I was, and still am deeply upset that Colonel Ian Cordon-Lloyd had been killed in this action. He was a real soldiers soldier, who led from the front and with us all close behind...

Swift and Bold