Eric Longfield Lloyd

Eric Edwin Longfield Lloyd MC (13 September 1890 – 18 July 1957) was an Australian army officer, public servant, and diplomat. He was Australia's inaugural trade commissioner to Japan (1935–1940) and later served as the inaugural director of the Commonwealth Security Service (1941–1945) and Commonwealth Investigation Service (1945–1952).

Early life Lloyd was born on 13 September 1890 in Marrickville, New South Wales. He was the son of Amelia Sarah (née Hunter) and George Thrift Lloyd, a banker. His father was Irish and the family moved to Ireland when Lloyd was 12, where he attended St Andrew's College, Dublin. After leaving school he moved to London and joined the Union Bank of Australia. He was transferred to the Sydney branch in 1912.

Military career Lloyd served with King Edward's Horse while living in London and joined the 29th Infantry (Australian Rifles) of the Militia in 1913. He joined the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) as a second lieutenant on the outbreak of World War I. He participated in the landing at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915 with the 1st Battalion. Lloyd was promoted captain in July 1915 but was invalided back to Australia in January 1916 due to typhoid fever. He was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Military Cross for leading a raid against an Ottoman trench in June 1915. After returning to Australia he joined the intelligence division of the general staff and was not formally demobilised until 1920. In November 1937, his title was changed to simply "commissioner", a reflection that his duties had expanded beyond trade. He remained in Japan until 1940 when he was succeeded by Latham as the official minister to Japan. Lloyd "proved to be a reliable reporter on Japanese politics and international ambitions", correctly noting the government's expansionist ambitions.