Charles Herbert Locke

Locke was born in Turramurra, New South Wales, the fifth of seven children, and was educated at Newington College (1920–1925)^[2] and at Wrekin College in Shropshire, England. He worked in insurance before a brief stint as a jackaroo and then with Prudential Assurance where he rose to be Sydney managing agent with power of attorney for the British Equitable Assurance.^[1]

In 1938 Locke was commissioned in the Militia. He was transferred to the Australian Imperial Force in 1940. He was promoted to captain and served with the 9th Division in the Middle East. He was mentioned in dispatches after service in Tobruk and Libya. In 1945 he took command of Z Special Unit and became a lieutenant colonel.^[3]

Returning from the war, Locke again worked in the insurance business and was involved in several Australian companies. He served as chairman of Tooheys, Lendlease,^[4] International Computers (Australia) and Anthony Squires. He was a board member of the Australia Hotel Co, Peko-Wallsend, Commercial & General Acceptance, Australian Equity Corporation, Permanent Trustee Co of New South Wales and the local board of Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society.^[5]

In 1936 Locke married Lesley Alison Vine,^[6] with whom he had four children (3 sons and 1 daughter). Lesley died in 1972. Locke married Mary Clare Luya Gregory in 1973. He died in San Francisco, California in 1977, from a myocardial infarction.

Locke was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1968.^[1][7]