We Remember

William Lockley

Rank: 
Private
Regimental number: 
772550
Unit at enlistment: 
125th Battalion
Force: 
C.E.F.
Volunteered or conscripted: 
Volunteered
Survived the war: 
Yes
Prisoner of war: 
Yes
Cemetery: 
Mount Hope Cemetery, Brantford, Ontario
Commemorated at: 
Wesley United Church
Birth country: 
England
Birth county: 
Lancashire
Birth city: 
Barrow-in-Furness
Address at enlistment: 
34 Rose Avenue, Brantford, Ontario
Next of kin address: 
34 Rose Avenue, Brantford, Ontario
Trade or calling: 
Labourer
Employer: 
Cockshutt Plow Co.
Religious denominations: 
Church of England
Marital status: 
Married
Age at enlistment: 
32

Letters and documents

BX September 17, 1917

Mrs. William Lockley, 34 Rose Avenue, has received word that her husband, Pte. William Lockley, has been missing since August 16, at the time when the Canadians were carrying on a bitter struggle at Lens.  He left here with the first overseas battalion of the Dufferin Rifles and was transferred to a battalion at the front, being in France three months before being reported missing.  He was an employee of the Cockshutt Manufacturing Company previous to enlisting.

BX September 28, 1917

Prisoner of War

Mrs. Agnes Ann Lockley, 34 Rose Avenue, received a cable today stating that her husband, Pte. William Lockley is now a prisoner of war in Lemberg, Germany.  He was previously reported missing.

BX November 27, 1918

Brantford Man is a Prisoner – Pte. William Lockley is at Minden and is Safe and Well

(Sarnia Canadian)

Whether or not Pte. William Lockley, husband of Mrs. Lockley, 141 Davis Street, this city, formerly of Brantford, has been receiving mail sent him from Canada, and whether or not he has been allowed to write regularly he does not say in a letter dated October 7th, at Minden prison camp in Germany, where he has been held in captivity.  The letter was received by his wife this morning.  He states that his “clothing is good and that he hopes the war will soon be over.”  It is over now, and no one is more joyous than she that, as it were, “the lost has been found,” and that he is now on his way home somewhere near the frontier.  His letter follows:

My Dear wife and family,

I am still well, hoping you and the children are the same and quite settled and comfortable wherever it may be.  Well, the summer is about through and winter nearly here.  I have some pretty fair clothes and shoes to wear which have been sent out by the Red Cross Society, they are very good to us prisoners of war, so we owe a great lot to their many kindnesses.  I wish I was at home; it’s so wearisome being a prisoner.  Anyway, I hope don’t think it will last long.  I hope not at any rate, for I am longing for home and you and the kiddies.  We get a little news.  By all accounts we are doing well and maybe will come to a speedy close.  Can you give me any information as regarding a lot of the boys of our battalion?  I hope Bob Plant don’t lose his arm.  I wish him every success.  I hope Bill Grey is still all right.  How is Crawford doing and Walter Mason?  The suspense of waiting here is awful.  I hope and trust it won’t be long now anyway.  Well, I must close.  It’s getting on my nerves.

BX December 28, 1918

Repatriated

Private William Gray, who enlisted with the 125th Battalion, and was captured the same day as Private W. Lockley, Sarnia, has just been repatriated.  Pte. Gray is well known in this city.  He was a former member of the Cockshutt Plow Company football team.  He served in France with the 75th Battalion.  So far as is known Pte. William Lockley has not yet been repatriated.

BX March 9, 1921

Lockley, William (772550)

William Lockley Took Own Life – While Delirious, During Pneumonia Attack, He Slashed His Throat

This morning at the hospital a most regrettable incident occurred when William Lockley took his own life.  He was a returned man, 37 years of age and resided at 42 Gordon Street.  He was admitted Monday night, suffering from pneumonia and occupied a bed in a general ward.

As he became slightly delirious a nurse under instructions of Dr. Faris, went for retaining straps, while another nurse remained by the bed.  He suddenly sprang out of bed, knocking down one nurse and slightly cutting another with a razor.  He then slashed his own throat.  The implement had been left by a relative who had shaved the deceased last night and placed the weapon in a locker beside the bed unknown to anyone.  At the request of the hospital board an inquest will be held.

BX March 13, 1921

Mr. William Lockley

The funeral of the late William Lockley took place on Friday afternoon from the residence of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lockley, 42 Gordon Street.  The number attending was very large.  Rev. John Middlemiss conducted the funeral service and the Great War Veterans conducted the funeral.  The bearers were Messrs. G. Carey, P. King, D. Richards, C. Horsepool, W.E. Grey and J. Anderson.  Interment took place in Mount Hope Cemetery.

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