41625 Pte George Locker of the 2nd Bn Northamptonshire Regiment died on this day, 20th August, in 1918. He was 36 years old, the son of Thomas Beven Locker and Sarah Locker and the husband of Florence Emily Locker of 49, 4th Avenue, Brownhills, Walsall.
Soldiers Died in The Great War (SDGW) notes that he had previously served with the South Staffordshire Regiment where he had the number 1056. Through a process of elimination, it would appear likely that that number belonged to the series in use by the 5th or the 6th (Territorial Force) Battalions. If it was the former, the number dates to July 1915. If the latter, to April 1909.
SDGW gives little additional information, stating that he enlisted at Rushall in Staffordshire, but George's medal index card notes another regiment - the Suffolk Regiment - and the service number 40610. This number dates to 1916 and I think therefore that George went to France with the 5th or 6th (but probably the 5th) South Staffs and transferred in France to a Suffolk Regiment battalion and then to the Northamptonshire Regiment. He was entitled to the British War and Victory Medals and therefore must have arrived overseas on or after 1st January 1916.
George Locker is buried in St Pol British Cemetery; grave reference II.B.12.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
Sources:
Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Image of St Pol British Cemetery from the British War Graves website.
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