Ian Corden-Lloyd
{{short description|British Army officer (1938–1978)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Iain Corden-Lloyd MC OBE
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1938|05|27|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1978|02|17|1938|05|27|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Durban, South Africa
| death_place = Jonesborough, County Armagh
| allegiance = {{UK}}
| branch = 23px British Army
| serviceyears = 1958-1978
| rank = Lieutenant Colonel
| commands = 2nd Battalion, Royal Green Jackets
| battles = Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
| awards = Military Cross, Officer of the Order of the British Empire, posthumous Mention in Dispatches
}}
Lieutenant Colonel Iain Douglas Corden-Lloyd {{Post-nominals|OBE|MC}} (27 May 1938 – 17 February 1978) was a British Army officer and one of the highest ranking soldiers to be killed in action during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/5736203/Commanders-who-lead-from-the-front.html Commanders who lead from the front]. The Telegraph, 3 July 2009
Career
Corden-Lloyd was commissioned into the 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles, later transferring to the Royal Green Jackets. He was subsequently seconded to the Special Air Service (SAS).Murray, Raymond (1990). The SAS in Ireland. Mercier Press, p. 196. {{ISBN|0-85342-938-3}} In 1964, while serving in the 10th Princess Mary's Gurkha Rifles in Borneo, Corden-Lloyd was accused of involvement in the torture of an elderly Dayak civilian, on the basis of a Scottish missionary's report. Corden-Lloyd was court-martialed, but was not punished after claiming that he'd been acting under of the orders of his commanding officer.{{Cite web |title=J. McGuffin (1973): Internment - Chapter 11 |url=https://www.irishresistancebooks.com/internment/intern11.htm |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=www.irishresistancebooks.com}}
In 1971, Corden-Lloyd took part in Operation Demetrius. He was awarded the Military Cross for distinguished service in Northern Ireland in 1972, although at the time the details of his action were not published for security reasons.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19780218&id=eo5AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2qQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3399,3882432 The Glasgow Herald, Feb 18, 1978] He became commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Green Jackets in 1976. That same year he was invested as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (military).[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/47102/supplements/6/page.pdf London Gazette], 31 December 1976
=Death=
: See 1978 British Army Gazelle downing
Corden-Lloyd’s battalion was deployed to Northern Ireland in December 1977, at a time when hostilities in the province were at their peak. A few days after their arrival, his troops suffered their first casualties and regular engagements with the Provisional IRA continued over the following weeks. On 17 February, a Green Jackets observation post deployed around the village of Jonesborough began to take heavy fire from the "March Wall", which drew parallel to the border with Ireland to the east, along the Dromad woods. The soldiers returned fire, but the short distance to the border and the open ground prevented them from advancing.Barzilay, David (1978). The British Army in Ulster, Volume 3. Century Services Ltd, p. 180; {{ISBN|0-903152-06-1}}
Corden-Lloyd, as commanding officer, along with Captain Philip Schofield and Sergeant Ives flew in a Gazelle helicopter from the base at Bessbrook Mill to assess the situation and provide information to the troops. While flying low and fast over the scene of the engagement, the aircraft came under fire from the IRA. The pilot executed a torque turn and, in so doing, stalled his tail fenestron fan rotor and lost control of the aircraft. The helicopter crashed into the field bordered by the March Wall, around 700 metres from Jonesborough. Corden-Lloyd was killed instantly, while the other two passengers were seriously wounded.
The crash of a British Army helicopter and the death of such a high-ranking officer was used as propaganda by the Provisional IRA, which published a report of the action in An Phoblacht.Coogan, Tim Pat (1994). The IRA: A History. Robert Rinehart Publishers, p. 292; {{ISBN|1-879373-99-8}} Corden-Lloyd had been accused by republicans of brutality against Catholic civilians during the Green Jackets tour of 1971.McGuffin, John (1973). Internment. Anvil Books Ltd, [http://www.irishresistancebooks.com/internment/intern11.htm Chapter 11]Van Der Bijl, Nick (2009). Operation Banner: The British Army in Northern Ireland 1969 to 2007. Pen & Sword Military, p. 82; {{ISBN|1-84415-956-6}} Corden-Lloyd was awarded a posthumous mention in dispatches by the British government, "in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Northern Ireland".[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/47643/supplements/11154 London Gazette], 19 September 1978
Personal life
Married with three sons at the time of his death, Corden-Lloyd is interred in Magdalen Hill Cemetery, Winchester.{{Cite web|url = http://www.southafricawargraves.org/search/details.php?id=29844|title = South African War Graves Project|date = |accessdate = 29 September 2014|website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}
References
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Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Category:Royal Green Jackets officers
Category:Recipients of the Military Cross
Category:British Army personnel of the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
Category:British Army personnel who were court-martialled
Category:British military personnel killed in The Troubles (Northern Ireland)
Category:British war criminals
Category:South African emigrants to the United Kingdom
Category:South African torturers
Category:South African war criminals
Category:Military personnel from Durban
Category:People killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the United Kingdom