Matthew Locke

Matthew Raymond Locke, MG (16 March 1974 – 25 October 2007) was an Australian soldier and a recipient of the Medal for Gallantry, the third-highest award for wartime bravery in the Australian honours system. During Operation Spin Ghar, with his patrol entrusted with setting up an observation post in Tarin Kowt, Oruzgan province, Afghanistan, the patrol was compromised by militia after a 10-hour foot infiltration up the side of a mountain. Sergeant Locke led a two-man team to neutralise the anti-coalition militia in order to protect the patrol from being overrun, repeatedly exposing 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.

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.

Military career Locke enlisted in the Australian Army on 11 June 1991. He completed Initial Recruit Training at Army Recruit Training Centre, Kapooka, New South Wales 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 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 (SASR).

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

Honours and awards

Sergeant Locke was awarded:

Since the death of 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.