Private Ernest Lockey

1. Private, 21st Battalion, Infantry (Army). 1915-02-03 to 1917-04-09
2. Private (Army). 1915-05-15 to 1915-08-31

Ernest Lockey's parents were Annie and William Lockey and in 1901 they lived in Aston Blank Gloucestershire with their 3 children. By 1911 wife and Mother Annie had died and the Father and his 3 Children were living at Chalk Hill Cottage Lower Swell and Maugersbury Gloucestershire England. On 6 May 1914 a 17 Year old Ernest Lockey leaves Avonmouth on board the ship Royal Edward with a party of Salvation Army Children and arrives at Quebec City 15 May 1914 for Destination Toronto . On 15 May 1915 a 19 year old Ernest Lockey joins the 33rd Battalion in London Ontario. On 31 August 1915 Private Ernest Lockey is in England and has been transferred to the 9th Reserve Battalion. On 3 Feb 1916 Pte Lockey was transferred to the 21st Battalion. On 9 April 1917 former Home Child Ernest Lockey was killed during the attack on Vimy Ridge. A comrade who was with him states:"Having worked his way over to the left frontage, he met with some opposition in front of the German Third Line. He opened fire with his Lewis gun from a shell hole, and after firing about a drum and a half of ammunition he fell on me, shot through the head. I examined him and found he was dead."

He had a younger brother, Alfred Lockey (Service No. 126595) who died 28 June 1917 in France

Details of death from Ancestry.com which includes a digitized image of the casualty form from the "Canada, War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty), 1914-1948” database

For more details see his memorial page on the 21st Battalion CEF web site