Eileen PL, May's daughter-in-law, thought his name was McCloud but it is more likely that he was the McLeod named as co-respondent on the divorce decree.  At any rate she establishes to me that May then married her lover.

This is confirmed by the CWGC site of war dead where he and May died in the same house in Cardiff.

Although I was told that he and May had two children, there is no sign of any other fatalities at their house in Cardiff.  While I have found their daughter Margaret’s birth, I wonder who the second child was?  Might it have been Philip, born in 1916 and registered originally with the surname of P-L?

An Ernest MCLEOD is recorded on FreeBMD as being born in 1886 in Merthyr Tydfil, vol 11a, p. 547.  This could well be he and would account for their moving to Cardiff in the 1920s.
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In the 1901 census there are but two Ernest Mcleods born in 1886 plus or minus a year, one from Co Durham and one from Glamorgan.  The latter was born in Merthyr Tydfil and his family was:

Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year  Occupation  Disability  Where Born

MCLEOD, James Head Married M 55 1846 Coal Merchant Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire
MCLEOD, Margaret A Wife Married F 51 1850  Pontypridd, Glamorganshire
MCLEOD, Robert W Son Single M 22 1879 Architect's Assistant  Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire
MCLEOD, Florence M Daughter Single F 17 1884  Student At Cardiff University Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire
MCLEOD, Ernest Son Single M 15 1886 Solicitors Clerk  Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire
MCLEOD, Mary Daughter Single F 13 1888  [no entry made]

RG number: RG13  Piece: 5024  Folio: 148  Page: 40

Registration District: Merthyr Tydfil  Sub District: Lower Merthyr Tydfil Enumeration District: 14
Ecclesiastical Parish: Merthyr Tydfil

Civil Parish: Merthyr Tydfil Municipal Borough:
Address: 34, William Street, Merthyr Tydfil
County: Glamorganshire

The daughter studying at Cardiff is a remarkable early development.
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In 1911 Ernest’s father and elder sister were away, he mother reported five children, all living and Ernest was recorded to be a clerk.

I cannot see the fifth child between these two censuses.
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However the 1891 census shows all five children and the missing one is Norman, born in 1878 (c.) in Merthyr Tydfil.  Curiously the father, James McLeod, is here entered as an Accountant.

In all censuses, the mother Margaret is reported as being both a Welsh and an English speaker.  The rest of the family was English speaking only.

From the Commonwealth War Grave site:

Name: McLEOD, ERNEST
Initials: E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 55
Date of Death: 29/04/1941
Additional information: F.R.C.A.; of 19 Llanbleddian Gardens. Husband of May Mathilde McLeod. Died at 19 Llanbleddian Gardens.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: CARDIFF, COUNTY BOROUGH, WALES
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Their marriage index:

First name(s) MAY M
Last name POWYS-LYBBE
Marriage quarter 3
Marriage year 1920
Registration month -
Spouse's last name MCLEOD
District RICHMOND (SURREY)
District number -
County Surrey
Country England
Volume 2A
Page 1473
Record set England & Wales marriages 1837-2008
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