World War One soldier laid to rest on the eve of the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme
Private (Pte) Robert Leonard Lock, from Littleport, near Ely, Cambridgeshire, buried in France today, on the eve of the first day of the battle in which he was killed. Identification was made through DNA testing nearly 110 years after he went missing in action.
The Reverend Stephen Cassels CF leads the burial service at CWGC Warlencourt British Cemetery (Crown Copyright)
Pte Robert Leonard Lock, of 12th聽Battalion聽The聽Durham Light Infantry, was laid to rest聽on the Somme聽today聽(30 June 2026)聽at a burial service organised by MOD鈥檚 Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the 鈥榃ar Detectives鈥�.聽The service took place at聽the聽Commonwealth聽War Graves Commission鈥檚 (CWGC)聽Warlencourt聽British Cemetery.聽聽
The burial service聽almost聽coincided聽with the 110th聽anniversary of the start of聽the Battle of the Somme聽which saw聽British and French聽forces聽attack聽on the morning of 1 July 1916. The聽date聽is聽the bloodiest in British military history, with 57,000 casualties sustained. The fighting continued until 18 November聽1916聽and would ultimately result in 420,000 Commonwealth casualties, 200,000 French casualties and 450,000 German casualties.聽
JCCC Caseworker, Rosie Barron said:聽
It has been a privilege to have聽seen Pte Lock laid to rest today in the presence of his family. It has been especially poignant as this marks the start of commemorations聽of the 110th聽anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.聽The story of Pte Lock聽reminds us that although the focus and narrative of the battle is on the high number of casualties killed or wounded,聽these men were not statistics, and聽each聽soldier and family affected聽have their own聽individual聽stories聽to tell.聽Pte Lock鈥檚 story has now been聽brought to a conclusion.聽聽
Pte聽Lock鈥檚 remains were聽discovered聽in 2022聽as聽a farmer ploughed his field near Le Sars.聽DNA testing, coordinated by聽JCCC,聽confirmed his identity.聽His great nephew, Anthony Wright,聽attended聽with his sons. The service was also attended by Roland Lock聽who,聽as聽the first cousin once removed of Pte Lock,聽provided a DNA sample.聽
Anthony Wright聽said:聽
We鈥檙e incredibly thankful to the JCCC for the great work they do so that Robert can be properly laid to rest and for giving us the opportunity to be there at the burial. Whilst it is incredibly sad, we are still very proud of the sacrifice that Robert made to protect our freedom.
Members of the Lock family at the graveside with Reverend Stephen Cassels CF (Crown Copyright)
Pte Lock, a farm labourer from Cambridgeshire, was posted to 12th聽Battalion聽The聽Durham Light Infantry.聽On聽7 October 1916,聽the battalion聽attacked the sunken road southeast of Le Sars聽and聽Pte Lock聽was among men who聽occupied聽a聽trench聽position known as聽the Tangle:聽the same location聽where his聽remains were found.聽
By the end of the day, the sunken road had been captured and the battalion consolidated their positions.聽One聽officer聽was聽killed,聽another聽was聽missing and聽31 other ranks聽were聽killed and 86 wounded.聽Pte Lock was聽amongst the casualties. He was聽20 years old.聽
The service聽was聽supported by serving soldiers from聽The Rifles聽and was聽also聽attended by serving聽members of the German and Belgian military.聽The service was聽conducted by the Reverend聽Stephen Cassells聽CF, Chaplain to 2nd聽Battalion聽The聽Rifles.聽聽
Private Lock was carried to his grave by serving soldiers of The Rifles (Crown Copyright)
Reverend聽Stephen Cassells聽CF said:聽
It is a privilege to play a small but important part to ensure a dignified and proper burial of a soldier who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Though over one hundred years have transitioned since his passing, it is fitting that those of antecedent regiments to his own have united to lay one of their own to rest. 鈥淕reater love has no one than this, that a person lay down聽their聽life for their friends鈥�. John 15:13. In eternal memorial.
The grave of Pte Lock will now be cared for by the CWGC in perpetuity. Vice Admiral Peter Hudson CB CBE, Vice Chairman of the CWGC, attended the service and said:聽
The reburial of Private Robert Leonard Lock, on the eve of the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, is a powerful reminder of the human cost of that campaign. For more than a century he lay unknown, but today we are able to restore him to his rightful place among his comrades of the Durham Light Infantry. Through the dedication of many, and the support of his family, we ensure that his sacrifice is recognised, and that he is remembered not simply as one of the fallen, but as an individual, known and honoured once more.