William John Lockett: Wednesday 3rd October 1917

William enlisted in Battersea on 13 June 1915 and became Gunner 52614 in the 123rd Bty., Royal Field Artillery. He was wounded prior to the 3rd October 1917. Field ambulances were stationed in the Convent of St. Antoine and William would have been treated there. He died of his wounds and is buried in Locre (now Loker) Hospice Cemetery in West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

William’s parents were William, a carter, and Sarah Jane, who had moved to 62 Wandle Road by 1901. He was born in Clapham and baptised in Holy Trinity Clapham on 18 December 1881.  Wilfrid, his brother, was baptised in St Anne’s on 26 April 1889 when the family lived in Beechcroft Road.

Both William and his brother Wilfred Roberts fought in the Great War. Wilfrid survived the war, was discharged on 14 July 1919 and, returned to work, and eventually took over the General Grocers at 186 Trinity Road.

During the war, the shop was run by the Mancktelow Family, who were to lose 2 family members in the conflict, who are commemorated on the Trinity Chapel Memorial. William still has a niece in the current SMM congregation.