Charles Leonard Lockhart
From Our Contribution
 Gosnells Local History Library | |
 photo Linton Reynolds April 2023 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | c1893 |
| Place of Birth | Blakeville, Victoria |
| Death | DOW 12 Oct 1917 |
| Place of Death | 10th Casualty Clearing Station, Lijssenthoek, Belgium |
| Age at Enlistment | 22 years, 11 months |
| Description |
5'6¼" (1.68m) tall ; 140 lbs 63.503 kg ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; fair hair |
| Occupation | Teacher |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Address | Astley street, Gosnells, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr John Charles Elworthy Lockhart |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 2947 |
| Date of Enlistment | 10 Jul 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 51st Battalion, 7th Reinforcements, B Company / 13th Brigade, 4th Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 9 Nov 1916 ‒ 10 Jan 1917 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A8 Argyllshire |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 11 Oct 1917 at Passchendaele Died of those Wounds 12 Oct 1917 |
| Monument |
Armadale Congregational Church Honour Board Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Gosnells Primary School Honour Roll Gosnells War Memorial Gosnells Ward Honour Roll Australian War Memorial |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Electoral Roll entry - 1916 living in Astley street, Gosnells with mother (father not on roll).
War Service
Charles was a popular teacher at the Armadale primary school. A month after entering Blackboy Hill camp, he was allocated to the 8th reinforcement draft for the 51st Battalion, but a month later he was moved to the 7th draft.
He travelled with them to England, and on arrival he was posted to the 13th Training Battalion in Codford from 11 Jan - 8 May 1917 where he was to prepare for service in the trenches of France and Belgium. Soon after beginning his training he spent a month (8 Feb - 5 Mar 1917) in the Sutton Veny Military Hospital with illness, delaying his transfer to France.
On 9 May 1917 he embarked in Folkestone for France, and reached his unit at Burie-sur-l'Ancre south west of Albert on 13 May 1917, the same day that his mother died. He participated in the attack on Messines Ridge (7th - 12th June) before his unit, the 51st Battalion, alternated between periods of rest and manning the front line trenches in the Kemmel region south of Ypres.
Their next attack was on Westhoek Ridge in late September, incurring very few casualties. On the evening of 10/11 Oct 1917 the battalion re-entered the front line forward of Ypres, and during the next day Charles received wounds to his abdomen (penetrating), left thigh and feet, probably caused by artillery fire attracted by troop movements. Treated first by the 3rd Field Ambulance before being seen by the 10th Casualty Clearing Station in Belgium where he died.
"CHARLES LEONARD LOCKHART. After a two years' course at the Claremont Training College, came as assistant-master to the Armadale State school, and after 2½ years of approved service, yielded to the call to arms. On Friday, 23rd June, a farewell gathering of parents, staff, and children was held at the school, where he was presented with an inscribed wristlet watch, the gift of staff and children. The football loving boys will miss him. So will the manual room."[1]
The Drill also contains a picture of Charles with his Headmaster Mr John A. Richards.
Additional Information
Teacher at Armadale Primary. At the time of his enlistment Charles was engaged to Amy Richards, a fellow staff member at Armadale Primary School. In late 1922, Amy married 6414 Henry (Harry) Butcher, also a member of the 51st Battalion.
Casualty List 352, Lockhart CL reported DOW.[2] West Australian 29 Oct 1917 p.1
LOCKHART.-Died of wounds received in France on October 12, 1917, Private Charles Leonard (late of the Education Department), dearly loved eldest Son of Charles and the late Rosannah Lockhart, of Gosnells, and brother of Nellie, Annie, Ruby, Ivy, Claude and the late Private Ernest Lockhart, aged 24 years.LOCKHART.-On October 12, 1917, died of wounds received in France, Charles Leonard LOCKHART, dearly beloved brother of Ruby and Bert Martin of Kelmscott, and uncle of little Nita and Ernie, aged 24 years. So dearly loved, so sadly missed.
LOCKHART.-Died of wounds on October 12. Charles Leonard, dearly loved friend of Amy Richards Armadale, aged 24 years..[3]
Charles' brother 2676 Private Ernest Edward Lockhart, a member of the 16th Battalion had already (12 Aug 1916) died of wounds received in battle.
"ARMADALE - An impressive service in memory of Charles Leonard Lockhart who died of wounds received in battle, was held in the Armadale Church on Sunday, 11th November. The Union Jack covered the pulpit, ivy had been twined around the Honor Board, and the church had been draped in white and black by the deaconess.[4]
Notes
Buried in LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY, BELGIUM - Plot XX Row J Grave 6A. Cemetery is 12 Kms west of Ieper (Ypres) town centre. Son of John C. E. And Rosannah Lockhart of Gosnells, Western Australia. Native of Blakeville, Victoria, Australia.
References
- ↑ 1916 Sep edition p.2
- ↑ "WESTERN AUSTRALIA.". The West Australian. XXXIII, (4,874). Western Australia. 16 November 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 20 July 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Family Notices". The West Australian. XXXIII, (4,858). Western Australia. 29 October 1917. p. 1. Retrieved 20 July 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ Gosnells Historical library.