We regret to advise of the death Major Lloyd Perkins Kenyon, MiD (Ret’d), P.Eng, B (Eng), BSc Mil, peacefully, on 27 April 2017 at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Veterans Wing in Toronto, ON in his 96th year.th year.
Lloyd grew up in Montreal and enrolled in the Royal Military College (RMC) in Kingston, ON in 1938 just after his 17th birthday. He was a noted athlete, playing rugby and hockey. When RMC closed for the war, Lloyd transferred to the engineering program at McGill University but then enlisted in the Canadian Army in May 1941. After completing his training as Royal Canadian Engineer officer, Lieutenant Kenyon spent some time in Canada as an instructor before being sent to England. In England he was assigned to the 16th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, that was part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division that was then preparing for the invasion of France.
On D-Day, Lloyd and his 16th Field Company sappers were among the first troops to land in Normandy. Their initial task was to clear mines and obstacles on the beach in order to allow the 8th Infantry Brigade to advance inland. Because the tide was higher than expected when the sappers touched down, it was a particularly difficult task to quickly clear the beach obstacles under enemy fire. In following days their work included defusing or blowing up booby traps to help the 3rd Division make the greatest inroads in the first few days after D-Day.
Following the Normandy landings, Lloyd and the 16th Field Company were involved in many of the ongoing key Canadian battles including Caen, Carpiquet Airport, Bourgebois Ridge, and Falaise Trun-Chambois. In the battles at Falaise, the 16th Field Company was part of the "cork in the bottle" operation that helped avert a full-fledged escape by the remnants of the German V and VII Armies. This was the decisive battle in Normandy. Within days, the fight advanced to the Seine and the liberation of Paris in late August 1944.
Following the liberation of France, newly promoted Captain Kenyon led as a front-line combat engineer officer through Belgium and Holland. Just after the end of the war he was promoted to Major and appointed Officer Commanding, 9th Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers that was employed clearing demolished bridges from the canals in Holland. He brought the unit home to Canada in January 1946.
Lloyd was awarded a Mention in Dispatches in October 1945. He was further honoured by Government of France in April 2015 with the award of the Legion of Honour in recognition of his involvement in the liberation of France.
After leaving the army, Lloyd returned to McGill University and completed his Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1948. He then started a 40-year career in the construction industry, holding various management positions with JLE Price and EGM Cape before retiring as Chairman of the Board of Dineen Construction. His projects included university, insurance and government buildings. In the early 1970s, Lloyd was the Project Manager responsible for the construction of K-Wing at the Veterans Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where he became a resident in 2011. Over his career, he served terms as President of the Toronto Construction Association and as Chairman of the Toronto Board of Trade. In addition, Lloyd was a member of Branch 165 Royal Canadian Legion for many years.
Cremation has taken place and a private family interment of ashes will occur at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that consideration of a donation be made to the Canadian Cancer Society , the Heart & Stroke Foundation or a charity of your choice. All are welcomed to attend a celebration of Lloyd's life that will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, 10 June at The Church of Our Saviour, 1 Laurentide Dr. in Don Mills, ON. Condolences may be sent through this link. {khMay2017}
