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Charles Leonard Lockhart

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Charles Leonard Lockhart
Lockhart Charles.jpg
Gosnells Local History Library
Lockhart Charles gravestone.jpg
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.

  • Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  • Kings Park Memorial walk
  • Cemetery Location

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

  1. 1916 Sep edition p.2
  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. 
  3. "Family Notices". The West Australian. XXXIII, (4,858). Western Australia. 29 October 1917. p. 1. Retrieved 20 July 2017 – via National Library of Australia. 
  4. Gosnells Historical library.

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