Michael Lockett
{{Short description|British Army soldier}}
{{about|the British soldier|the British businessman|Michael Lockett (events organiser)|Michael Lockett Garrett|Mike Garrett}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Michael Lockett
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Michael Christopher Lockett
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1980|06|11}}
| birth_place = Aldershot, Hampshire, England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2009|09|21|1980|06|11|df=yes}}
| death_place = Helmand Province, Afghanistan
| placeofburial = Linn Cemetery, Glasgow, Scotland
| nickname = Locky
| allegiance = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| branch = {{army|United Kingdom}}
| rank = Sergeant
| serviceyears = 1996-2009
| servicenumber = 25061301
| unit = Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment
Mercian Regiment
| awards = Military Cross
}}
Sergeant Michael Christopher Lockett {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MC}} (11 June 1980 – 21 September 2009){{AFM roll of honour|id=J2869|name=Lockett, Michael|access-date=23 May 2015}} was a British soldier, killed in action in Afghanistan aged 29. In June 2008 Lockett was presented with the Military Cross by Queen Elizabeth II, for his efforts in an attempt to recover the bodies of Pte. Johan Botha and Sgt. Craig Brelsford, as well as successfully rescuing four other injured soldiers. In September 2009, an improvised explosive device which he was investigating exploded, injuring Lockett and two other soldiers. Lockett died before he reached hospital. He is the first soldier to die on operations who has been awarded the Military Cross since World War II.
Early life
Lockett studied at Longcroft School in Beverley, in 1996, he joined the 1st Battalion of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment stationed at Tidworth Camp, Wiltshire and spent the majority of his military career as a machine gunner.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/Afghanistan/article6844686.ece|archive-url=http://wayback.vefsafn.is/wayback/20100416193231/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/Afghanistan/article6844686.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 April 2010|title=Military Cross hero, Sergeant Michael Lockett, killed in Afghanistan|work=The Times |location=London |accessdate=23 September 2009 }} He was a qualified Jungle Warfare and Military Tracking Instructor.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2009/09/23/hero-scots-soldier-killed-in-afghanistan-was-most-impressive-soldier-i-ve-ever-met-says-commander-86908-21694023/|title=Hero Scot killed in Afghanistan was 'most impressive soldier I've ever met', says his commander|work=Daily Record|accessdate=23 September 2009}}
Military Cross
While fighting in Afghanistan during Operation Herrick VI in September 2007, Lockett, then a corporal,{{cn|date=December 2019}} and the rest of his unit, were commanded to penetrate enemy lines, and ruin their posts. The soldiers dubbed the mission 'Operation Certain Death', but carried it out nonetheless.{{cn|date=December 2019}} However, they were ambushed by Taliban troops. The ambush caused the death of Private Johan Botha and Sergeant Craig Brelsford, as well as inflicting injuries on four other soldiers. Michael led the remaining soldiers in an attempt to retrieve the bodies, and rescue the four injured soldiers. For his "leadership, command, control and supreme courage", Lockett was awarded the Military Cross on 7 March 2008, which he later received from Queen Elizabeth II.{{London Gazette|issue=58633|supp=y|page=3613|date=7 March 2008}}
Death
At the time of his death on 21 September 2009, Lockett was working with the Afghan National Army, at Patrol Base Sandford.{{cite news|url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/ActingSergeantMichaelLockettMcKilledInAfghanistan.htm|title=Acting Sergeant Michael Lockett MC killed in Afghanistan|work=Defence News|publisher=Ministry of Defence|date=22 September 2009}} He had volunteered to stay at the base because new soldiers were due to arrive, and he wanted to ensure they knew as much about the local area as possible.{{cite news|last=Norton-Taylor|first=Richard|title=Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Has Been Awarded Military Cross|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/sep/22/dead-soldier-military-cross|accessdate=17 November 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|date=22 September 2009}} He was investigating an improvised explosive device, when it detonated, killing him, and injuring two nearby soldiers. As well as being the 217th British soldier to die in Afghanistan since October 2001, he is the first soldier who has been awarded the Military Cross to later die there.{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Afghanistan-Death-Soldier-Named-As-Acting-Sergeant-Michael-Lockett-MC/Article/200909415386534 |title=Military Cross Holder Killed in Afghanistan |publisher=Sky News|accessdate=23 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926031357/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Afghanistan-Death-Soldier-Named-As-Acting-Sergeant-Michael-Lockett-MC/Article/200909415386534 |archivedate=26 September 2009 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/09/23/medal-hero-michael-lockett-29-dies-in-action-in-afghanistan-115875-21693831/|title=Medal hero Michael Lockett, 29, dies in action in Afghanistan|work=Daily Mirror |location=UK|accessdate=23 September 2009}}{{cite news|url=http://www.agi.it/world/news/200909231554-cro-ren0029-afghanistan_hero_sergeant_decorated_by_queen_is_killed|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110604122401/http://www.agi.it/world/news/200909231554-cro-ren0029-afghanistan_hero_sergeant_decorated_by_queen_is_killed|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 June 2011|title=Afghanistan: Hero-sergeant decorated by Queen is killed|publisher=AGI News On|accessdate=23 September 2009}}
Memorial and tribute
Lockett's body was flown back to Britain on 29 September, where hundreds filled the streets to pay tribute to him.{{cite news|url=http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Schoolfriends-Sgt-Lockett-set-tribute-fund/article-1379165-detail/article.html|title=Schoolfriends' tribute fund to Sgt Lockett|work=Hull Daily Mail|accessdate=30 September 2009}} Lockett's school friends Kate Atkinson, Rochelle Booth, Kelly Jackson and Rebecca Knowles started up The Lockett Fund, which has raised hundreds of pounds for the charity Help for Heroes.
Personal life
See also
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- [https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/sep/22/michael-lockett-british-soldier-afghanistan "Each time I met Locky, I admired him more. Brave, proud, funny … fallen"], The Guardian, 22 September 2009.
- [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/onthefrontline/6224331/Acting-Sergeant-Michael-Lockett-the-Army-is-my-best-friend-it-will-last-with-me-forever.html]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lockett, Michael}}
Category:British Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Category:British military personnel killed in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Category:Deaths by improvised explosive device in Afghanistan
Category:Mercian Regiment soldiers
Category:Military personnel from Aldershot
Category:Recipients of the Military Cross
Category:Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment soldiers