Matthew Locke (soldier)

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Matthew Locke
War in Afghanistan
AwardsMedal for Gallantry

Matthew Raymond Locke,

Oruzgan province, the patrol was compromised by militia after a 10-hour foot infiltration up the side of a mountain. Sergeant Locke led a two-man team to neutralise the anti-coalition militia in order to protect the patrol from being overrun, repeatedly exposing himself to intense rifle and machine-gun fire. He was awarded the medal in December 2006. Sergeant Locke was on patrol in October 2007 when he was fatally shot by small arms fire from militia.[1]

Early life

Matthew Locke was born on 16 March 1974 in Bellingen, New South Wales, to Norm and Jan Locke, the youngest of six children in a family of two sisters and four brothers. Locke left school at the age of 15 to work for two years in a sawmill, before enlisting in the army at the age of 17. He instantly developed a passion for soldiering. Two of his brothers had also served in the Australian Defence Force.[2]

Military career

Locke enlisted in the

Multinational Force in Iraq
.

Death

Locke was leading a six-man foot patrol in support of Operation Spin Gear clearance of the Chora Valley, as part of Task Force 66 (TF66). As his team was navigating through a river system, the patrol came under fire from insurgents, and he was hit by a single bullet from a PKM machine gun. Locke was reported to have died instantly. Due to the green roles nature of the combat patrol, combat body armour was not worn for the mission. Body armour was seen as a hindrance for this particular mission, and due to its design and the location of the attacking force, would not have protected Locke. Locke was evacuated by helicopter, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.[3]

A memorial service was held in

Perth, Western Australia. It was attended by then Prime Minister John Howard and then Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd, SASR personnel, and hundreds of mourners including wife Leigh Locke, and son Keegan. Matthew Locke was buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery.[4]

Honours and awards

Sergeant Locke was awarded:[1]

the Medal for Gallantry,
the Australian Active Service Medal, with the Iraq Clasp and the International Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT) Clasp,
the Afghanistan Campaign Medal,
the Australian Defence Medal,
the United Nations Medal with the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor Ribbon (UNTAET),
the Infantry Combat Badge and
the Returned from Active Service Badge.

Legacy

In 2009, a bridge named "Sgt Matthew Locke MG Bridge" was unveiled in the Bellingen Shire by Locke's son Keegan, just north of Raleigh, New South Wales, relatives and Special Operations Commander Australia Major General Tim McOwan were present at the unveiling.[5]

Since the death of Locke, a rugby league charity match has been run every year in memory of him. The match is between the Bellingen Magpies and the Australian Army Rugby Team, funds raised from the charity event go towards Legacy Australia and The Grub Club.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Sergeant Matthew Locke". Department of Defence. 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  2. ^ Gilmore, Heath (28 October 2007). "We said our brave son was invincible". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  3. Perth Now
    . Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  4. ^ Packham, Ben (3 November 2007). "SAS hero Sgt Matthew Locke laid to rest". Herald Sun. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  5. ^ Love, Kira (17 June 2009). "Locke bridge honours our fallen soldier". The Coffs Coast Advocate. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  6. ^ Locke, D. (9 March 2011). "3rd Annual Matthew Locke Charity Match". The Grub Club. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
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