Name
Christopher Lockwood
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/09/1917
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
2920
Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
58th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HOOGE CRATER CEMETERY
XIII. E. 17.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Edmunds College Memorial, Old Hall Green
Biography
The following text was transcribed from the The Edmundian (1814-1819) – The contemporary magazine of St Edmund’s College:
Boys gain and learn more at school, and at St. Edmund's especially, as Edmundians believe, far more than any books can teach. A number of boys, here as elsewhere, will ever find books and bookishness above, or beneath them. But school-life, with its games, its intercourse, and its moments of conflict too, imparts to them a compensating something, which stands them in good stead when school days are over. Christopher Lockwood, the fourth son of Alfred and Ada Lockwood, (all four are Edmundians), left the College only some four years ago. He was a well set-up boy, of a very winning appearance; an enthusiast at games, and, at everything but class work, the ideal school-boy, not lacking that spice of mischief without which, surely, the ideal is unrealized.
On leaving the College he went far afield, to Australia, and shortly took to fruit farming. In this, prospects were exceptionally good when war broke out, and of course, for “Chris," hesitation was out of the question. There was some unavoidable delay, however, so that, for all his enthusiasm, it was not until November 1916 that he sailed for France, with the 58th Battalion, Australian Infantry. In France he shewed what we have mentioned above, the comparative needlessness of books, and those qualities too which no mere books can teach. He was early promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Bullecourt and its horrors left him unhurt. "The first time 'Chris was under fire " says the Lieutenant placed over him " I noticed his steadiness and splendid example. He was invariable to me in steadying the men." At Polygon Wood, again, a Captain tells us "the men had the greatest confidence in him and would follow him anywhere, so splendid was his example and courage." He was killed, instantly, on the 22nd of September, having been at Mass and Holy Communion only a few hours before.
We have just heard that Laurence Lockwood was badly wounded at Messines.
The Lockwoods, who have given so generously and so unassumingly are assured of our sympathy. Mass was offered for " Chris " on receipt of the news of his death.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Di Vanderson, The Edmundian (1814-1819) – The contemporary magazine of St Edmund’s College
