LOCKREY, Henry Richard

Henry was a thirty-three-year-old Engineering Fitter when he enlisted at Inverell in May 1916. He was a son of William and Martha Lockrey and lived at Stannifer NSW.

During June 1916, he was one of thirty recruits farewelled at Inverell Town Hall and presented with the Inverell Medal. Three months later, whilst home on final leave, the citizens at Stannifer organised a farewell for him in their local hall.

Henry was a member of the 33rd Battalion, 4th Reinforcement and sailed from Australia for England on HMAT A30 Borda in October 1916. After arrival at Plymouth on 9 January 1917 he was transferred to Dorrington camp until sent to France in March. Two months later he became ill with influenza and hospitalised for ten days. At the beginning of 1918 he was diagnosed with Trench Fever and returned to England for treatment.

Following Henry’s return to Australia in January 1919 he came back to Stannifer where he a ‘Welcome Home’ function was held for him. Three months later he was medically discharged. After the War he worked in the Elsmore district where he lived with his wife Alice. Tragically he was injured in a mining accident and died in 1936. At his funeral, returned soldiers acted as pall bearers and formed a guard of honor prior to his burial at Tingha.

Henry’s name is recorded on the Inverell Honor Roll and the Elsmore Roll of Honor.