Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Major W. J. Lockett, Royal Engineers, late Honourable Artillery Company, killed in action in ‘Operation Anger’, the Liberation of Arnhem, on 5 April 1945

1914-15 Star (1857 Pte W. J. Lockett. H.A.C. (Inf)); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. W. J. Lockett.) minor erasure after surname on BWM, very fine or better (3) £240-280

William John Lockett was born in Kingston, Surrey, in 1891, the son of Frederick and Miriam Lockett, of 29, St James Road, Kingston, Surrey. He enlisted on 2 September 1914 and first served during the Great War on the Western Front with the 1st Battalion Honourable Artillery Company from 29 December 1914. He was commissioned in the 2nd Field Company, Wessex Divisional Engineers, Royal Engineers, on 3 June 1915, was promoted Lieutenant in June 1916. He served with this unit in Salonica until 30 September 1921, when he relinquished his commission on joining the Territorial Army, retaining the rank of Lieutenant. Following the outbreak of the Second World War he was commissioned from the Royal Engineers (Territorial Army) in May 1940 in the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps and reverted to the Royal Engineers in January 1943. He was killed in action, aged 53, in Holland during Operation Anger (the Liberation of Arnhem) on 5 April 1945, whilst serving with 961st Operating Company, Inland Water Transport, Royal Engineers. He is buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Nijmegen, Holland.