Irvine Bell's Story.
Birkenhead News 23 May 1917PORT SUNLIGHT ENGINEER KILLED.
Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Lockhart, of 10, Bridge Street, Port Sunlight, have received the sad news that their fourth son, Corpl. Irvine Bell Lockhart, of the Cheshire Field Co., R.E., was killed in action in France during the fighting which took place on April 25th. He and two other corporals, members of a working party, were struck by a shell, and all three met with instantaneous death. Young Lockhart, who was in his 22nd year, joined the R.E.’s some time before the outbreak of war, and leaving home on August 6th, 1914, on the general mobilisation of the Territorial Forces, he crossed to Flanders in December of that year, and, with two brief periods of leave, was at the front continuously until the day of his death.
He received his early education at Port Sunlight schools, and after two years’ additional training at Toxteth Technical Preparatory Trades School, Toxteth Park, he entered the service of Messrs. Lever Bros. as an apprentice to the electrical branch of engineering. The lad possessed a bright and sunny disposition, and was much liked by his comrades at the front; and he also earned the praise of his officers for the untiring energy he always displayed in the performance of his duties. He was the youngest of four brothers who volunteered for foreign service when the war broke out.