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Auction: 18001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 287

(x) Six: Regimental Sergeant-Major J. Lock, Durham Light Infantry, late King's Royal Rifle Corps and Military Provost Staff Corps, onetime attached West African Field Force

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1897-98 (Cpl. J. Lock, 3rd K.R.R.C.); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith (8131 Sgt. J. Lock, K.R.R.C.); 1914-15 Star (18-1790 Sjt. J. Lock, Durh. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (18-1790 W.O. Cl. I J. Lock, Durh. L.I.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (1206 S. Sjt. J. Lock, M.P.S.C.), the earlier awards a little polished, nearly very fine or better (6)


James Lock was born in Peterborough, Northamptonshire on 7 August 1871 and enlisted in the King's Royal Rifle Corps in June 1893, aged 19 years. He was posted to the 3rd Battalion on the Isle of Wight and was advanced to Lance-Corporal in November 1894 and to Corporal in December 1896.

In February 1898, Lock was posted to the 2nd Yoruba Regiment in the West African Frontier Force and he subsequently witnessed active service on the Gold Coast, most likely in the Lapai Expedition under Lieutenant-Colonel Pilcher in June of the same year (Medal & clasp).

He re-joined the 3rd Battalion in Ireland in July 1899 and was advanced to Lance-Sergeant in May. Next ordered to South Africa, he was present in the relief of Ladysmith operations, including the action at Tugela Heights, the whole as a member of 4th Brigade Mounted Infantry Company (Queen's Medal & 3 clasps). He was advanced to Sergeant in the same period but was invalided home May 1900.

He subsequently transferred to Military Provost Staff Corps (M.P.S.C.) and was appointed an Assistant Warder at H.M. Military Prison, Gosport in April 1901. In the following year - and having moved to H.M. Military Prison, Cork - he was advanced to Staff Sergeant. Later still, he served in the M.P.S.C. in Malta and it was during this period that he was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in AO 254 of 1910. Returning to the U.K. to an appointment at the Detention Barracks and Military Prison at York, he was discharged in June 1913.

On the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Lock re-joined the M.P.S.C. and was quickly advanced to Sergeant-Major. Then towards the end of 1915, he transferred to the 18th (1st County) (Service) Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry as R.S.M. and was embarked for Egypt. In March 1916, the Battalion was re-embarked for France, and Lock served there until the end of then year. His last wartime appointment was as R.S.M. in the 13th Battalion of the Royal Defence Corps and he was discharged in December 1918.


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Sold for
£950