BX July 18, 1916

F.E. Locke’s Wrist Watch Located; Owner Missing – Watch Was Presented to Golf Pro by Local Golf Club on Enlistment – Found on Battlefield

Apparently Gunner Frank Locke of the 32nd Battery is missing. His wrist watch, presented to him by the Brantford Golf and Country Club, he being the professional coach there before the war, has been picked up on the battlefield, while he cannot be located.

The following letter received by the secretary of the Brantford Golf and Country Club, gives details of the picking up of the watch:

June 28, 1916
Headquarters, 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade

The Secretary, the Brantford Golf and Country Club,
Brantford, Ont. Canada

Dear Sir,

A few weeks ago a wrist watch bearing the following engraving on the back thereof was picked up on the battlefield by one of the men of this brigade:

“Presented to F.E. Locke by the Brantford Golf and Country Club, Christmas, 1914”

Efforts were made to try and locate the man in question by sending the watch to the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade, to one of the battalions of which it was thought this man belonged, but they had no one of this name on their nominal rolls, and enquiries made of the Canadian Record Office did not result in our obtaining any definite information. They were unable to trace him with the records at our disposal, and enquired as to his regimental number, which we are unable to give. It would be appreciated if you could supply this office with any particulars regarding this man, his regimental number, battalion to which he belonged, etc., etc., and whether he has since arrival in France been transferred to some other unit. In the meantime, we are holding the watch in this office, and if with your assistance, we are able to locate the owner (which it is sincerely hoped will be the case), it will be forwarded to him.

Yours faithfully,

P.J. Montague, Captain,
6th Canadian Infantry Brigade,
2nd Canadian Division,
B.E.F.