Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Described on enlisting as  28 years 7months old, single, 5’11” tall; 130 lbs; dark hair; grey eyes; medium complexion, well built, Church of England.

Father   Alfred Lock  and Mother  Mary Jessie Ann (nee Le Galley)  of Bridgewater
Sister – Marjorie Ellen Lock.

Previous service:    12months Public Service in the Adelaide Rifle Club – still serving on enlistment.

17/1/1916         Completed medical - fit for service

20/1/1916         Enlisted as a Private - Mitcham Camp

31/1/1916         Appointed to the    Howitzer Brigade 120

1/2/1916           Private in “C” Company 2nd Depot

16/2/1916         Gunner in Field Artillery

16/5/1916         Promoted to Corporal

22/8/1916         15/6th Reinforcement Maribyrnong, Victoria

31/8/1916         Corporal in the 120 Howitzer Brigade

3/10/1916         Embarked from Melbourne on the 'HMAT A60 Aeneas' for overseas

19/11/1916       Disembarked Plymouth, England

7/1/1917           RBAA Larkhill

20/3/1917         Boyton Camp Wilte – proceed overseas to France

31/3/1917         Taken on strength 102nd Howitzer Battalion (2nd Field Artillery Battalion)

20/7/1917         Promoted to Temporary Sergeant

22/8/1917         Wounded in action, remained on duty in Belgium

9/10/1917         Hit by a piece of shell, lost his arm, and died of wounds. (30 years old)

21/2/1918         Stated by   Bombadier Edward Jay #1865  (2nd Field Artillery Brigade)
                                           (from Two Wells).
                         “He was hit by a shell and killed at 5am on 9/10/1917, coming out of
                          the Officer’s dugout at West Hoek Ridge, he was hit, rushed back
                          and said “I’ve lost my arm”.   He was immediately dressed, taken
                          down on a gun wagon, but died before reaching the dressing station
                          (about a half a mile away).  He was buried the next day at Dickebusch
                          Military cemetery and a cross was erected with his name and details
                          on it. (I saw his grave).     He was a very popular fellow.  I have written
                          to his people.”

                          Stated by   S Whitmore:
                          “I bought his body down on a gun wagon to Dickebusch, he was buried
                           there the next day.  I was present at the funeral, Padre Oakley officiated
                           at the grave.  A cross was erected bearing full particulars.  I knew him
                           in the batty (battalion).”

10/10/1917       Buried in Dickebusch Military Cemetery,  Padre Oakley officiated at the
                         grave and a cross was erected with his name and details written on it.

He was later reinterned at:-
The Huts Cemetery, Ypres, West-Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium.
Plot X, Row B, Grave No. 6.

Medals:
WWI Star 1914-15;   British War medal (49150);  Victory medal (48549);
Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll (335321).

AFTER THE WAR:      
The township of Lock, 160km north of Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia,
was named after Albert Ernest LOCK.  He had been a member of the survey branch,
Department of Lands, South Australia.

Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan.   28 July 2014.   Lest we forget.

AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS.
DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY.
Corporal ALBERT ERNEST (Bert) LOCK, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Lock, of Bridgewater, died of wounds on October 9. After leaving Prince Alfred College he entered the Survey Office, where he remained until he enlisted on February 1, 1916. He sailed from Melbourne On October 3, and after training on Salisbury Plain left for France with the 120th Howitzer Battery. He lived nearly all his life in Bridgewater, and his genial and sunny nature endeared him to all. He had previously been wounded.