Virtual
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Australia

Cecil Bert Lovell Lock (referred to as Bert) No. 624, 10th Battalion A.I.F., was born 15th December 1894 in Quorn South Australia to parents Amos Edward (Edwin per Bert’s marriage extract) & Clara (nee Ilderton).  At some point the family moved to nearby Petersburg and lived on Railway Terrace.  Petersburg is now known as Peterborough, it was 1 of 69 places in South Australia whose name was changed in 1917 during the period of anti-German sentiment that prevailed at the time.

After leaving school he obtained employment as a wheelwright working for the South Australian Railways, Petersburg being a major railway centre at the time.  He spent over 4 years in the Senior Cadets which were affiliated with Adult Militia Units, in Bert’s case the 78th Infantry, Adelaide rifles.

He enlisted, aged 19, at Morphettville on the 27th of August 1914 and was attached to B Coy 10 Bn.  He trained at Morphettville and embarked on HMAT Ascanius A11 at Outer Harbour on the 20th of October 1914. 

The 10th Bn trained in Egypt and was part of the 3rd Brigade which was the covering force for the Landing on Gallipoli.  A chronology of Bert's service follows:

 2/06/1915 - Re-joined Battalion at Gallipoli from Base Details - possibly as part of 5th Reinforcements
16/08/1915 - Battalion Diary notes that men were getting sick and rundown with 45% having diarrhoea
2/09/1915 - Battalion Diary notes the health of the men was very bad
6/09/1915 - Bert suffers from diarrhoea (dysentery) went to No 3 Field Ambulance Beach Dressing Station
6/09/1915 - Went to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station.
11/09/1915 - OC 10 Bn noted he is sick in Hospital
11/09/1915 - Arrived Imbros - 25th Casualty Clearing Station
18/09/1915 - Admitted with dysentery to Hospital at Lemnos
19/09/1915 - To go to Base Hospital at Malta
22/09/1915 - Disembarked Malta
28/09/1915 - Embarked Malta for England
2/10/1915 - Admitted Southern General Hospital at Bristol
22/10/1915 - Cable sent by Base Records Melbourne, to Bert's father at Railway Terrace Petersburg advising that Bert had been wounded
23/10/1915 - Bert's father responded by telegram asking for a message to be sent to Bert from the family.
26/10/1915 - Cable sent by Base Records Melbourne, to Bert's father advising that as Bert was not seriously wounded that he was not entitled to the free cable concession to send a message to Bert.  They did advise that a cable can be sent at the special soldiers rate of 9d per word.
27/11/1915 - Admitted to depot, Abbeywood, London
7/05/1916 - Went AWL (Absent Without Leave) from Abbeywood
11/01/1917 - Bert (aged 22) of 2 Meridian Vale married Violet Irene Higgins (known as Irene - a Spinster aged 19) of 28 Wolsely Rd, Bishopston.  They were married at The Parish Church Clifton, Bristol. 
13/01/1917 - Bert apprehended at Highbridge
17/01/1917 - Admitted 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital
2/03/1917 - Discharged from hospital - total period 46 days
16/04/1917 - Court Martial for AWL held at Tidworth - Hearing presided over by Major F W Seyer 13th LH Regt.
Charge - AWL 7/5/16 until apprehended at Highbridge 13/1/17.  Bert pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months detention to be served at the Australian Detention Barracks at Lewes. Forfeits 709 Days Pay - £177
25/04/1917 - 6 months of the sentence remitted, custodial sentence now 12 months
17-18 Oct 1917 - Initial onset of ankle condition after doing strenuous work - noticed pain and swelling on outer side of right ankle - admitted to hospital for about 8 weeks
20/10/1917 - Son, Thomas Berkeley Lovell, was born in Bristol.
1/12/1917 - Next-of-Kin form completed noting his wife Violet. I. of 28 Wolseley Rd, Bishopston, Bristol, England as the next-of-kin
3/12/1917 - Discharged from A.I.F. Detention Barracks at Lewes to Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire
12/12/1917 - Proceeded overseas to France ex. Longbridge Deverill via Southampton
19/12/1917 - Taken on strength by 10th Bn AIF from Reinforcements, the battalion was in the line in the Messines sector (A quiet sector)
24/12/1917 - Battalion moved to Wulverghem Camp, assigned to fatigues
1/01/1918 - Battalion moved to the line in the Messines Sector
9/01/1918 - Battalion moved to Wulverghem Camp
16/01/1918 - Battalion moved to Rossignol Camp, Kemmel and was doing work in working parties
20/01/1918 - Bert taken sick in the Field - to go to hospital
22/01/1918 - Sent to 1st  Australian Field Ambulance
23/01/1918 - Sent to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station
25/01/1918 - Sent to 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station
27/01/1918 - Sent to 14th General Hospital at Wimereux, Pas-de-Calais, France
29/01/1918 - From hospital embarked on "St Denis" in France bound for England (Synovitis right knee)
29/01/1918 - Admitted to Queen Mary's Military Hospital, Whalley, Lancashire, with Synovitis Peroneal Tendon Severe
6/02/1918 - Letter from Major J M Lean of Base Records, Melbourne sent to Bert's father at Railway Tce Petersburg that he had been admitted to Queen Mary's Military Hospital suffering from synovitis peroneal tendon, severe.
8/02/1918 - Transferred to No. 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital,  Harefield Park House
23/02/1918 - Went on furlo - approved by Major Anderson AAMC - Registrar of hospital
2/03/1918 - Next of Kin advised that Bert was convalescent
9/03/1918 - Furlo due to end at 11am and to report to No. 4 Command Depot, Hurdcott
9/03/1918 - AWL from 11am at London
11/03/1918 - Returned from AWL 12 noon
11/03/1918 - Court Martial Hearing presided over by Major  C H Howard - penalty 4 days pay forfeited
11/03/1918 - Sent to No. 4 Command Depot Hurdcott
12/03/1918 - Admitted to hospital - inflammation of sheath of tendons (Right Peroneal) - Complained of pain in the peroneal above right ankle, swelling
24/03/1918 - Went AWL from Hurdcott at 8.30am
26/03/1918 - Returned from AWL 9.30am
5/04/1918 - Court Martial Hearing presided over by Lt Col D S Wanliss - found guilty and awarded Field Punishment no. 2 for 1 day and forfeited 4 day's pay
12/04/1918 - Relapse of ankle condition
16/04/1918 - Admitted to 2nd Southern General Hospital, Bristol, from Hurdcott
24/05/1918 - AWL from 2nd Southern General Hospital at Bristol from 9am
30/05/1918 - Apprehended by MP's at 9am at Downend Rd (Harefield) Bristol
30/05/1918 - Court Martial hearing presided over by the O/C 2nd Southern General Hospital at Bristol - found guilty - forfeited 8 day's pay
13/06/1918 - Went AWL from 2nd Southern General Hospital, Bristol
20/06/1918 - Apprehended at Bristol
7/07/1918 - Went AWL from 2nd Southern General Hospital, Bristol
14/08/1918 - Apprehended at Bristol
15/08/1918 - Discharged from Hospital
16/08/1918 - Returned to No. 4 Command Depot, Hurdcott
6/09/1918 - Court Martial held to hear 2 charges of AWL 13 June & 7th July. Presided over by Lt Col Tovan - Pleaded not guilty to both charges.  Found guilty of both charges.  Sentenced to 9 months detention. Forfeited 242 day's pay.
12/09/1918 - 3 months of sentence remitted by The Hon. Sir J.W. Mc Cay
18/09/1918 - Admitted to Lewes Detention Barracks from No. 4 Command Depot
1/10/1918 - Admitted to dermatological hospital
6/12/1918 - Discharged from hospital
31/12/1918 - HQ A.I.F. Depots, Tidworth - Unexpired portion of sentence (64 days) remitted, was due to expire 5th March 1919
31/12/1918 - Discharged from Lewes Detention Barracks to the Overseas Training Brigade
2/01/1919 - Final Medical Board before embarkation, assessed as having no disability and being fit for general service.
31/01/1919 - AWL from 2200 hours
9/02/1919 - Returned from AWL 2200 hours
9/02/1919 - Court Martial hearing presided over by Major A N Phillips, found guilty - awarded 18 days Field Punishment No. 2 and forfeited 27 day's pay
13/02/1919 - The Senior Medical Officer at Longbridge Deverill advised that Bert would not be prejudiced by not travelling home on an ambulance carrier.
2/04/1919 - Returned to Australia per "Benalla" ex England.  Embarked with his wife and child.
8/04/1919 - NOK advised Bert returning to Australia
21/05/1919 - Disembarked in Australia at Adelaide
21/05/1919 - Had final medical check at Keswick Barracks, Adelaide.  The RMO noted he had no disabilities and passed him as fit for duty.
20/07/1919 - Discharged at 4th Military District
8/12/1920 - Medal issued - 1914/15 Star 
4/01/1921 - Medals issued - British War Medal & Victory Medal 

Bert and his family lived at 28 Trimmer Parade in Seaton Park, a suburb of Adelaide.  He was a member of the Seaton Park RSL which was quite close to his home.

He authored the 10th Battalion history – “The Fighting 10th : a South Australian Centenary Souvenir of the 10th Battalion, A.I.F., 1914-1919”.  It was his plan to launch the book as part of South Australia's centenary celebrations in 1936. At that time, the 10th Battalion returned servicemen were highly regarded members of South Australian society.

The book was published in Adelaide by Webb & Son in 1936.  It has a foreword by Brigadier-General Stanley Price Weir, D.S.O., V.D. the original Commanding Officer of the 10TH.  It also contains biographical, historical and statistical information including the original embarkation roll for the Battalion, biographies of officers and summary of decorations received by members of the Battalion.  The book has been reprinted several times over the years and remains a popular history and reference source.

Bert passed away on the 10th of December 1953 aged 58, he is buried in the Cheltenham Cemetery, Adelaide.