William Arthur's Story.
William was one of 14 children born to Edward and Mary Lockett, (nee Walker) The 1911 census shows William age 10 and the family living at the Sewage Works Cottage, Chester. Edward age 50 was an engineman at the Sewage works, it shows that of the 14 children four had died.
For the period that William fell the battalion war diary reads;
10th January Relieved 20th Manchester’s in New Munich Trench, relief complete by 12:10am, A B & C companies formed up in Cake Trench until 5am when they formed up on tape preparing to attack MUNICH TRENCH. Zero hour 6:40am, enemy trenches entered about 7am. 11th Situation during the day quiet, captured trench consolidated and posts established at various points, weather fine. 12th Battalion relieved Casualties Capt P.A.H Thorniley and 2nd Lieutenant Dunderdale Killed Capt H.W Walker wounded, Other ranks 17 Killed, Wounded 56, Missing 2
One of the local papers reported his death.
Chester Observer, Saturday February 3rd 1917 Young Chester Hero Parents Sad Experience
There have been many instances of pluck shown during the present war, and one of them can be laid to the credit of Pte. William Arthur Lockett, son of Mr and Mrs Edward Lockett, of the Outfall Works, The Cop, Chester. He joined the 21st battalion of the Manchester Regiment last year when only 15 years of age, and went to France in March last year. He was wounded and sent to a hospital in England. He returned on active service in France, and only recently wrote to his parents to say that he anticipated being home on leave. It was when a further message was expected that the parents received official intimation from the War Office that their son had been killed in action on the 10th or 12th of January. Thus, this young patriot had laid down his life in the service of his country at the age of 16 years and five months, and it may be of some consolation to the bereaved parents to know that their son has been one of the noble examples to older and, perhaps, fitter men to so willingly do his bit. Mr Lockett, who is in the employment of the Chester Corporation, has two more sons serving with the colours, one in the R.A.M.C and the other in the Shropshire Light Infantry. The former, Joe Lockett was a well-known local footballer, and had played on several occasions for Chester’s premier team, while his brother Tom Lockett, also well known in the city, is at present in France and has been wounded. To add to the grief of Mr and Mrs Lockett a married daughter of theirs passed away this week.
William is buried at Beaumont Hamel Military Cemetery B.78