It is with great sadness that the Department of Defence announces the death of Sergeant Matthew Locke, serving with Special Air Service Regiment in Oruzgan Province in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, 25 October 2007.

Sergeant Locke was on a patrol when fatally wounded by small arms fire from Taliban extremists.

Sgt Locke was decorated (Medal of gallantry) for extreme bravery in the face of overwhelming fire in 2005 for his actions on a previous deployment to Afghanistan.

Sadly he is the second Australian killed in the past 17 days.

Rest in peace mate

A sad occasion for all, saddest for those he left behind. Our condolences to his family.




"At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning.....
We Will remember them".





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Very sad news - R.I.P Brave Soldier

We have not departed for fanfares to be sounded.
We've no need of glory in memorial orations.
Not to save the old world did we willingly perish,
Or that falsehood might blossom from dead generations.

We've no need to be subject of florid pronouncements,
Or a point of great value for furious dispute.
And let no man presume to reap his compensation
Through all that is holy in a soldier's last salute.

Beneath the turf of green there are no class distinctions,
No longer social cleavage can hope to wound our pride.
Respect this equal spirit. When blackouts are lifted,
Our ghosts together fallen let no one dare divide.

Another name joins the ranks of those ANZAC's gone before

Lockey was a top bloke.
A genuine mate and a true workhorse on the job.
His family has taken this pretty hard and with help from the ADF community they are coping as best they can.
He will be sorely missd by everyone who new him, worked with him or looked up to him. He was a true inspiration to all. An ANZAC in the truest form.