Jack Lockett
Encyclopedia
John Henry "Jack" Lockett OAM
(22 January 1891 – 25 May 2002), was a farmer and an Australian veteran
of the First World War
. At the time of his death, aged 111 years, 123 days, he was the oldest man
in Australia. He died just three days after fellow supercentenarian
, Australia's oldest woman and oldest person ever, Christina Cock
, who was 114 at the time of her death.
town of Waanyarra, near Bendigo
. He left school at the age of twelve to work on a local farm. Later, Lockett worked for his uncles in The Mallee
. On 24 March 1916, Lockett travelled to Mildura
to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force
. He served in France, earning promotion to sergeant
, and was discharged on 20 September 1919.
After the war, Lockett returned to The Mallee and selected a 640 acres (259 ha) block of land in Linga, Victoria
, deciding to make his living as a farmer. In 1923, he married Maybell Ingwerson, and they had four children together. In 1963, the couple retired to Bendigo, leaving the farmland, (which now covered more than 130000 acres (52,609.2 ha)), in the care of their children and grandchildren.
In 1998, Lockett and his known fellow surviving veterans were awarded Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur
by the French government for their service in the war. In 2000, at the age of 109, he participated in the 2000 Olympic Torch Relay. On 11 June 2001, he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia
for service to the community of Bendigo, particularly as a representative of Australia war veterans. Lockett died of kidney failure at age 111, and was the oldest man ever to have lived in the Southern Hemisphere
.
At the time of his death, he was survived by four children; Jack, Kevin, Joyce, and Ron; fifteen grandchildren; and twenty-four great-grandchildren.
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Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(22 January 1891 – 25 May 2002), was a farmer and an Australian veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. At the time of his death, aged 111 years, 123 days, he was the oldest man
Oldest people
This is a list of tables of the verified oldest people in the world in ordinal rank, such as oldest person or oldest man. In these tables, a supercentenarian is considered 'verified' if his or her claim has been validated by an international body that specifically deals in longevity research, such...
in Australia. He died just three days after fellow supercentenarian
Supercentenarian
A supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....
, Australia's oldest woman and oldest person ever, Christina Cock
Christina Cock
Christina Cock is recorded as the oldest verified supercentenarian in Australian history, aged when she died. She is one of the 60 oldest verified people of all time. For over a year, Cock was the oldest person ever of the Southern Hemisphere, until being surpassed by María Capovilla of Ecuador...
, who was 114 at the time of her death.
Biography
Lockett was born in the small VictorianVictoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
town of Waanyarra, near Bendigo
Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
. He left school at the age of twelve to work on a local farm. Later, Lockett worked for his uncles in The Mallee
The Mallee
The Mallee is the most northwesterly district in the state of Victoria, and also encompasses the agricultural district of South Australia. Definitions vary, however all are based on the Victorian distribution of mallee eucalypts...
. On 24 March 1916, Lockett travelled to Mildura
Mildura, Victoria
Mildura is a regional city in northwestern Victoria, Australia and seat of the Rural City of Mildura local government area. It is located in the Sunraysia region, and is on the banks of the Murray River. The current population is estimated at just over 30,000.Mildura is a major agricultural centre...
to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
. He served in France, earning promotion to sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
, and was discharged on 20 September 1919.
After the war, Lockett returned to The Mallee and selected a 640 acres (259 ha) block of land in Linga, Victoria
Linga, Victoria
For other uses, please see Linga Linga is a locality situated on the section of the Mallee Highway between Ouyen and the South Australian border in the Sunraysia region...
, deciding to make his living as a farmer. In 1923, he married Maybell Ingwerson, and they had four children together. In 1963, the couple retired to Bendigo, leaving the farmland, (which now covered more than 130000 acres (52,609.2 ha)), in the care of their children and grandchildren.
In 1998, Lockett and his known fellow surviving veterans were awarded Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
by the French government for their service in the war. In 2000, at the age of 109, he participated in the 2000 Olympic Torch Relay. On 11 June 2001, he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
for service to the community of Bendigo, particularly as a representative of Australia war veterans. Lockett died of kidney failure at age 111, and was the oldest man ever to have lived in the Southern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
.
At the time of his death, he was survived by four children; Jack, Kevin, Joyce, and Ron; fifteen grandchildren; and twenty-four great-grandchildren.
Honours and awards
- Medal of the Order of AustraliaOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(awarded 11 June 2001) - British War MedalBritish War MedalThe British War Medal was a campaign medal of the British Empire, for service in World War I.The medal was approved in 1919, for issue to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who had rendered service between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918...
- Victory Medal
- 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance MedalThe 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal was a commemorative medal made to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Armistice marking the end of World War I...
(awarded 21 April 1999) - Centenary MedalCentenary MedalThe Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
(awarded 1 January 2002) - Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
(awarded 4 July 1998)
See also
- List of Australian supercentenarians
- List of the verified oldest men
- Oldest peopleOldest peopleThis is a list of tables of the verified oldest people in the world in ordinal rank, such as oldest person or oldest man. In these tables, a supercentenarian is considered 'verified' if his or her claim has been validated by an international body that specifically deals in longevity research, such...
- SupercentenarianSupercentenarianA supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....
- Veterans of the First World War who died in 2002Veterans of the First World War who died in 2002The following is a list of known veterans of the First World War who died in 2002.-Australia :-Austria-Hungary :-Belgium :-Canada :-France :...
External links
- Personal Stories: John "Jack" Lockett – Victorians At War project page (includes photographs)
- "AUSTRALIA FAREWELLS OUR OLDEST DIGGER", Department of Veterans AffairsDepartment of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)The Department of Veterans' Affairs is an Australian Government department. Within its portfolio is:*Australian War Memorial*Military Rehabilitation & Compensation Commission*Office of Australian War Graves*Repatriation Commission...
press release. - "Farewell to a gentle veteran", Meaghan Shaw, The AgeThe AgeThe Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
, 2002-05-27. Accessed 2005-10-25. - "Vale Jack Lockett: a zest for life for 111 years", Farah Farouque, The Age, 2002-05-31. Accessed 2005-10-25.
- Another Kind of Survival – The Story Of Jack Lockett – Radio NationalRadio NationalABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...
catalogue summary. Accessed 2005-10-25. - Jack Lockett – Transcript of interview by Ina Bertrand – an interview in Bendigo on 2000-12-13. Accessed 2005-10-25.
- National Archives of Australia Service Record of Sgt J.H. Lockett, Regt Number 1194