LOCKE, Geoffrey Robert
Service Number: | 39161 |
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Enlisted: | 6 January 1967 |
Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
Last Unit: | 9th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (9RAR) |
Born: | Launceston, Tasmania, Australia , 14 October 1946 |
Home Town: | Launceston, Launceston, Tasmania |
Schooling: | School Captain at Launceston Church Grammar in 1965. |
Occupation: | Trainee Executive |
Died: | Accidental, South Vietnam, South Vietnam, Vietnam, 9 May 1969, aged 22 years |
Cemetery: |
Carr Villa Memorial Park, Tasmania Garden of Remembrance, Carr Villa Cemetery, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia |
Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Devonport Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Grafton Clarence Valley Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Kallangur Vietnam Veterans' Place, Officer Cadet School Portsea Memorial, Port Pirie Vietnam Veterans Honour Wall, Seymour Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk Roll of Honour, Sydney 9th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Vietnam Killed on Active Service Plaque, Tasmania (Launceston) Garden of Remembrance |
Vietnam War Service
6 Jan 1967: | Enlisted Australian Army (Post WW2), Officer Cadet, 39161, Army Training Units | |
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9 Dec 1967: | Promoted Australian Army (Post WW2), Second Lieutenant, Army Training Units, Commissioned Officer Cadet School (OCS) Portsea | |
4 Nov 1968: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Second Lieutenant, 39161, 9th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (9RAR), KIA 9 May 1969 | |
4 Nov 1968: | Involvement 39161 |
Geoff Locke
Geoff was my school captain. Launceston Grammar - 1965.
Geoff was always going to be a soldier. The top dog in the cadets.
His trick was to lift two 303 rifles - only holding the bayonet bit at the end - simultaneously with right and left arms perfectly straight.
He was a big strong boy.
My marble didn't come up. I have felt slightly guilty for 50 odd years.
We had a school 40 year reunion. Geoff's mother and sister came. Geoff's sister spoke. She said it was very sad for her mother, looking at these aging men with children (and grandchildren). That was the thing she felt saddest about Geoff's death, all those years later. No Geoff, no grandchildren.
Most of us cried.
Of course a waste.
To Geoff.
Submitted 26 July 2016 by kim hennessy