A Superb Military Medal & WW1Pair.
To: 232695. PRIVATE. CHARLES LOCK.
2/2nd (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers). London Regiment.
KILLED IN ACTION,
France and Flanders, Friday 15th June 1917.
Private Charles Lock was the son of William and Florence Lock of:
'Frona', Hill-Head, Stubbington, Hampshire.
He was 35 years old when he won his M.M. on 14th May at Bullicourt.
He was sadly Killed in Action just 31 days later on Friday 15th June 1917 and did not live to see his medals.
Pte Lock is buried at H.A.C. Cemetery Ecoust-St.Mein.VI.D.14
The group comes with an original head and shoulders picture of Pte Lock in civilian clothes and the original card of congratualtion from his C.O. on winning his M.M.
Private Lock's Military Medal was for gallantry on Saturday 14th May 1917 at:
The Battle Of Bullicourt (3rd -17th May 1917)
Reads: 58th London Division
No: 232695, Pte C Lock 2/2nd Bn London Regt:
"Your gallant conduct on 14th May 1917 at Bullicourt has been brought to my notice, and I take this opportunity of congratulating you on the good service you have rendered to your country".
H. D. Fanshawe. Major General Commanding 58th (London) Division.
The battle was a vicious struggle and part of the allied offensive of 1917 in an attempt to break the Hindenburg Line.
Here is a short extract from a war diary written by an Australian soldier who was actually at Bullicort during the battle.
...."We fought many smaller battles until Bullicourt where our strength was 1050 men. We were at Fleurs, it took about an hour to travel along the duck boards, if you fell into the mud you drowned, the mud was terrible. Another period we had the great snowstorm and then we froze. You could see the fish frozen in the water in the streams.
Bullicourt was now looming up on the horizon, a huge bombardment went on for days. The day before the battle we saw a German plane brought down and when the pilot was captured he was brought past us and although a prisoner he called "We will be waiting for you tomorrow" how they knew, had us bluffed.
The battle of Bullicourt was to be an endeavour to break the Hindenburg Line. Canadians, New Zealanders, Africans, Scotts and 62 English Conscript Divisions were on our left. The battle was horrific and many, many died. After the battle we were relieved by another unit and taken to a rest area.
We had about 40 officers and 200 troops left from over 1000 men"....
A very emotive award from one of the wars most dreadful battles.
THE M.M. itself is 'GEM MINT STATE" with black blue colour.
One of the nicest looking medals you could wish for.
£-SOLD-