Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Francis Lockett was raised in Norwood, South Australia and was born in February 1885. Francis had a ‘fresh’ complexion, with brown hair and blue eyes and was a member of the Church of Christ. He stood at 5’10 and a half and was 152 lbs, which fitted the requirements of joining the army in 1916. He previously served in Fort Largs on the coastline of Port Adelaide for 3 years. Before his service in WW1, Lockett was a railway porter and had a family consisting of his wife, Sophia Margueretta Hellena Lockett and his 3 children.

Francis enlisted in Adelaide, South Australia on March 13th, 1916, at 30 years old. He was accepted and joined the 12th Australian Field Ambulance unit in the 10th battalion, 21st reinforcements on which he worked in the AAMC (Australian Army Medical Corps). He embarked on October 23rd, 1916,  and arrived at his first stop in Devonport, England on the 28th of December 1916 where hisBbattalion soon marched in to Etaples, England by early January.

From January to March 1917, he played his roll and proceeded to France, until he became a ill with bronchitis. He was sent back to England and was treated in hospital

Unfortunately for Francis, shortly after recovering from bronchitis, he became ill with scabies, a common trench disease that involves a burrowing mite that goes under the skin. He was treated in Tidworth Military hospital aka Dehli Hospital, in England from May 13th till June. After his recovery, he travelled overseas to France to the training depot from Folkstone, United Kingdom.

After battling many common illnesses throughout his time, Lockett was placed in the Australian General Base Depot, which was signified for those not assigned to divisions, where he proceeded from Rouelles, France to England on the 21st of November 1917, nearing the end of his time in WW1.

Finally, after 15 months of service in France and England, Francis Lockett returned to Australia per Port Devenport on January 11, 1918, and was discharged from the Australian army on 19th of April 1918 due to being medically unfit to fulfill his duties.

After his service from 1916-1918, Francis came home to his family in Bridgewater, South Australia until March 22nd, 1945, where it is unknown how he passed. His name was placed on Aldgate War Memorial, Bridgewater and Norwood Primary School Honor roll for his time and service in the First World War and he received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His grave can be found in the Stirling Cemetery.