William Locke (general)

Major General William James Macavoy Locke, MC (14 August 1894 – 3 April 1962) was a senior officer in the Australian Army during the Second World War and the immediate post-war period.

William Locke
Born(1894-08-14)14 August 1894
St Kilda, Victoria
Died3 April 1962(1962-04-03) (aged 67)
AllegianceAustralia
Service / branchAustralian Army
Years of service1912–1947
RankMajor General
Commands3rd Armoured Division (1943)
2nd Motor Division (1942–43)
2nd Cavalry Division (1942)
2nd Armoured Brigade (1941–42)
Battles / warsFirst World War
Second World War
AwardsMilitary Cross
Mentioned in Despatches (2)

A graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, Locke served in the First World War and spent much of the interwar period as a staff officer in Melbourne, Sydney and Tasmania.[1] During the Second World War he commanded cavalry and armoured units at the brigade and division level, and was responsible for supervising the transition of many of Australia's mounted units to motorised and armoured formations.[2][3] Locke finished his military career as Chairman of the Permanent Post-War Planning Committee (1944–1946).[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Naval and Military: Change in Headquarters Staff". The Mercury. 10 February 1937. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  2. ^ a b McCarthy, Dudley (1959). South-West Pacific Area – First Year: Kokoda to Wau. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Vol. V. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. p. 26.
  3. ^ "Mechanisation of S.A. Forces". The Advertiser. 31 March 1942. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
Military offices
Preceded by
Major General William Steele
General Officer Commanding 3rd Armoured Division
1943
Succeeded by
Major General William Bridgeford