p>Douglasnbsp;Wrightnbsp;Lockwoodnbsp;(1918-1980), journalist, soldier and author, was born on 9 July 1918 at Natimuk, Victoria, second child of native-born parentsnbsp;Alfred Wrightnbsp;Lockwood, journalist, and his second wife Ida Dorothea, neacute;e Klowss, daughter of a German immigrant. Alfred had four children by a previous marriage. Educated at Natimuk State School,nbsp;Douglasnbsp;worked on his father's newspaper, thenbsp;West Wimmera Mail, and on newspapers at Camperdown, Tatura and Mildura./p> p>In 1941nbsp;Lockwoodnbsp;joined the Melbournenbsp;Herald. On 4 October that year at the Methodist Church, Wangaratta, he married Ruth Hay, a clerk. Soon afterwards he was sent to Darwin and in February 1942 saw the first enemy bombs fall on Australian soil. Enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force on 15 June, he trained in intelligence and security duties. He served in New Guinea and on Bougainville in 1944-45 with 'V' and 'Z' Field Security sections, and was promoted warrant officer. Following his discharge on 15 June 1945 in Melbourne, he was a war correspondent for theHerald, reporting from the Netherlands East Indies. In 1946 he returned to Darwin and, except for postings to thenbsp;Herald's Melbourne (1947-48) and London (1954-56) offices, was to remain there until 1968./p>