Name
Thomas Locking
12 Feb 1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/09/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
23458
The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
9th Bn., attached 20th Bn. Manchester Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GUILLEMONT ROAD CEMETERY, GUILLEMONT
II. D. 8.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Haileybury College Cloister Wall Memorial, Hertford Heath, (servants Plaque), Hertford Heath Village Memorial, Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Little Amwell, Not on the Hertford memorials
Pre War
Thomas was born in Little Amwell on 12 Feb 1895 (baptised 3 Apr 1895) to George Pidd Locking, a labourer, and Louisa (nee Pratt).
On the 1901 Census Thomas was living with his parents, elder brother George, elder sister Charlotte and younger sisters Rose, Harriet and Florence at Church Hill Little Amwell. On the 1911 Census Thomas, now a farm labourer, was living at the Street Little Amwell with his parents, younger sisters, Rose, Harriet, Florence and Nellie (born 1907), Kate (born 1909).
Thomas was later employed as a kitchen porter at Haileybury College.
Wartime Service
Thomas attested on 24 Nov 1915 as Private 23458 and was placed on Army Reserve until he was mobilised on 21 Jan 1916 in the 4th (Special Reserve) Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, transferring to 3rd Battalion on 26 Jun 1916 following training.
On 1 Jul 1916 he was deployed to France arriving in Infantry Base Depot at Etaples and being allocated to 9th Loyal (North Lancashire) Regiment on 8 Jul 1916 but was attached to 20th Battalion Manchester Regiment the same day. The Manchesters were a unit of 7th Division and took part in battles of Bazentin, High Wood, Delville Wood, and Guillemont during the Battles of the Somme. Thomas was posted as Missing around 3 Sep 1916 and later he was presumed killed in action that day.
His remains were later discovered at Guillemont 1 ½ miles NW of Combles and he was reburied in Guillemont Road Cemetery. His father received a letter confirming these facts on 23 Nov 1917.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £3 9s 9d was paid to his father.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Malcolm Lennox, Karen Smith - Acting Director of External Relations www.haileybury.com/honour
