Matthew Locke (soldier)

Matthew Raymond Locke MG (16 March 1974 – 25 October 2007) is a recipient of the Medal for Gallantry, awarded for bravery, the third highest award in the Australian honours system. During Operation Spin Ghar, with his patrol entrusted with setting up an observation post in Tarin Kowt, Oruzgan province, the patrol was compromised by militia after a 10-hour foot infiltration up the side of a mountain. Sergeant Locke, without regard for his own personal safety, led a two-man team to neutralise the Anti-Coalition Militia in order to protect the patrol from being overrun, and in effect repeatedly exposed himself to intense rifle and machine gun fire. He was awarded the medal in December 2006. Sergeant Locke was on patrol in October 2007 when he was fatally shot by small arms fire from militia.[1]

Matthew Raymond Locke MG
Sergeant Matthew Locke MG
Born	(1974-03-16)16 March 1974 Bellingen, New South Wales, Australia
Died	25 October 2007(2007-10-25) (aged 33) Tarin Kowt, Orūzgān Province, Afghanistan
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Army
Years of service	1991–2007
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Australian Special Air Service Regiment
Battles/wars	War in Afghanistan  • Operation Spin Ghar
Awards	Medal for Gallantry

Early life

Matthew Locke was born on 16 March 1974 in Bellingen, New South Wales, to Norm and Jan Locke, the youngest of six children in a family of two sisters and four brothers. Locke left school at the age of 15 to work for two years in a sawmill, before enlisting in the army at the age of 17. He instantly developed a passion for soldiering. Two of his brothers had also served in the Australian Defence Force.[2]

Military career

Locke enlisted in the Australian Army on 11 June 1991. He completed Initial Recruit Training at Army Recruit Training Centre, Kapooka, NSW and commenced Initial Employment Training on 10 September 1991. Locke was posted to the 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. He undertook further training while serving in the Royal Australian Infantry Corps, and completed various basic courses and became a Small Arms Coach. In November 1997, Locke completed the Australian Special Air Service Regiment selection course and over the next two years completed 15 specialist programmes ranging from patrolling, demolitions, diving, parachuting, and medical. Locke was subsequently posted to 2 Squadron, Special Air Service Regiment.[1]. In 2004/2005 he was assigned to be a part of bodyguards for Jim Molan who was then the Chief of Operations Australia Defence in Iraq.

Death

Locke was leading a six-man foot patrol in support of Operation Spin Gear clearance of the Chora Valley, as part of Task Force 66 (TF66). As his team was navigating through a river system, the patrol came under fire from insurgents, and he was hit by a single bullet from an AK-47 assault rifle fire. Locke was reported to have died instantly as the bullets tore into his chest entering from the shoulder, due to the angle of attack. The SAS troop was in heavy contact battling the insurgents for the next hour, as British apaches supported the troops with ground fire.

Due to the green roles nature of the combat patrol, combat body armour was not worn for the mission. Body armour was seen as a hindrance for this particular mission, and due to its design and the location of the attacking force, would not have protected Locke. Locke was evacuated by helicopter, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.[3]

A memorial service was held in Perth, Western Australia. It was attended by then Prime Minister John Howard and then Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd, SAS personnel, and hundreds of mourners including wife Leigh Locke, and son Keegan. Matthew Locke was buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery.[4]

Honours and awards

Sergeant Locke was awarded:[1]

	the Medal for Gallantry,
	the Australian Active Service Medal, with the Iraq Clasp and the International Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT) Clasp,
	the Afghanistan Campaign Medal,
	the Australian Defence Medal,
	the United Nations Medal with the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor Ribbon (UNTAET),
	the Infantry Combat Badge and
	the Returned from Active Service Badge.

Legacy

Sgt Matthew Locke MG Bridge

In 2009, a bridge named "Sgt Matthew Locke MG Bridge" was unveiled in the Bellingen Shire by Locke's son Keegan, just north of Raleigh, New South Wales, relatives and Special Operations Commander Australia Major General Tim McOwan were present at the unveiling.[5]

Sgt Matthew Locke MG Charity Match

Since the death of Matthew Locke, a rugby league charity match has been run every year in memory of him. The match is between the Bellingen Magpies and the Australian Army Rugby Team, funds raised from the charity event go towards Legacy Australia and The Grub Club.[6]

References

1. "Sergeant Matthew Locke". Department of Defence. 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
2. Gilmore, Heath (28 October 2007). "We said our brave son was invincible". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
3. McPhedran, Ian (2 November 2007). "SAS reveal how Matthew 'Locky' Locke was ambushed in Afghanistan". Perth Now. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
4. Packham, Ben (3 November 2007). "SAS hero Sgt Matthew Locke laid to rest". Herald Sun. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
5. Love, Kira (17 June 2009). "Locke bridge honours our fallen soldier". The Coffs Coast Advocate. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
6. Locke, D. (9 March 2011). "3rd Annual Matthew Locke Charity Match". The Grub Club. Retrieved 19 August 2015.