Memorial locket : Mrs Harriet Lukey

Oval shaped gold locket with link and clasp on top. The front bears black enamelled letters 'CWML', in the form of interlocking cypher, attached to the inside of the locket with four backing pins and small split rings. The back is engraved 'A TOKEN OF SYMPATHY TO Mrs LUKEY from the SHOPMATES OF HER SON who was Killed IN ACTION IN FRANCE 19th July 1916'. The right hand (in open position) side of the locket contains an space for a photograph with leather backing, a glass cover and rose gold frame.

Associated with Mrs Harriet Lukey and her son 2626 Private Charles William Moyle Lukey, a jeweller from Brunswick, Victoria.

Lukey was born in Port Melbourne and enlisted on 16 June 1915 at the age of 27 and eleven months. He sailed from Melbourne on HMAT Makarini with the 8th Reinforcements to the 8th Battalion, AIF and arrived at Gallipoli early in December 1915. Lukey was transferred to 60th Battalion on 24 February 1916.

With the rest of his battalion Lukey arrived in France for service on the Western Front on 29 June 1916. The battalion arrived at Rouge de Bout, north east of Fromelles in the evening of the 11 July. For the next few days the battalion undertook fatigue duty in the front line and communication trenches. From 16 July preparations for an attack were made. When the troops of the 5th Australian and 61st British Divisions attacked at 6pm on 19 July 1916, they suffered heavy losses at the hands of German machine-gunners. Small sections of the German trenches were captured by the 8th and 14th Australian Brigades, but, without flanking support and subjected to fierce counter-attacks, they were forced to withdraw. By 8am on 20 July the battle was over. The 5th Australian Division suffered 5,533 casualties, rendering it incapable of offensive action for many months; the 61st British Division suffered 1,547. Lukey was one of the casualties. Originally reported as missing, he was in fact later confirmed as having been killed in action on 19 July. His name is listed on the VC Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial at Fromelles.