Gunner John Lockie

Gunner John Pretswell Lockie, 71st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery. He was killed in action in Normandy, France, aged 28, on the 14th August 1944. He had been born in Selkirk in 1915 and was the son of the late Hugh and Maggie Lockie. His brothers George and Sidney lived in 38a Curror Street, Selkirk. Before enlisting in 1940 he had been employed at the St Mary’s Mill in Selkirk. His Unit was part of the 53rd ( Welsh ) Division and had landed in Normandy in late June 1944. He fell in action near Caen and is buried in Banneville-La-Campagne War Cemetery, Normandy, France where his Headstone is inscribed ” At The Going Down Of the Sun And In the Morning We Will Remember Him”. The Regiment’s usual weapon was the 17 pounder anti tank gun as shown below.