Sergeant Locke led a two-man team to neutralise the anti-coalition militia in order to protect the patrol from being overrun, repeatedly exposing himself to intense rifle and machine-gun fire.

He undertook further training while serving in the Royal Australian Infantry Corps, and completed various basic courses and became a Small Arms Coach.

[1] In 2004/2005 he was assigned as one of the bodyguards for Major General Jim Molan, who was then Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations in the new Headquarters Multinational Force in Iraq.

Locke was leading a six-man foot patrol in support of Operation Spin Gear clearance of the Chora Valley, as part of Task Force 66 (TF66).

It was attended by then Prime Minister John Howard and then Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd, SASR personnel, and hundreds of mourners including wife Leigh Locke, and son Keegan.

The match is between the Bellingen Magpies and the Australian Army Rugby Team, funds raised from the charity event go towards Legacy Australia and The Grub Club.