William Birkett Cockbain – the son of the well-known butcher Ernest
Cockbain of St. John’s Street, Keswick. This Bill Cockbain enlisted early in
1914, and was private in the Border Regiment. He became a lance corporal, then
transferred out to begin Officer Training at Pirbright. He became Temporary
Lieutentant W. B. Cockbain of the 33rd Battalion, the Machine Gun Corps.
He won an M.C for his leadership in a night battle in Englefontaine, Northern
France in 1918. His medal and a record of the 33rd Battalion are in Keswick
Museum. He was an electrical engineer. His mother, Clara, the
wife of Ernest, was a VAD at Lingholm Hospital for Officers too. He was finally demobbed
in 1921 as a full Lieutenant – though some folk call him a Captain.