The British government during WW1 had a policy, where families that had already lost one son could apply to have their surviving son or sons released on compassionate grounds.

Robert Lawson Docker, my Great Granddad, was born in 1891, the son of Robert Fell Docker and Frances Lawson, the original owners of the fruit and fish shop on Wellington St. Robert Lawson Docker had two brothers, Walter and Fred. When the war broke out in 1914, all three brothers joined the British Army. Robert Lawson Docker joined the Royal Garrison Artillery; Walter joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers; and Fred joined the Royal Fusiliers, graduating in absentia from Manchester University.

Fred Docker was killed on 31 July 1917, the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres (also known as the Battle of Passchendaele). He is commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres.

Walter was killed just five months after Fred in Egypt. He is buried in the Jerusalem War Cemetery in Israel.

As a result of the tragic loss of Fred and Walter within the space of five short months, Robert Lawson Docker was returned to England on compassionate grounds in April 1918, an application having been made for his return in January of that year. He remained in England for the duration of the war as a partner in his father's business. We think that Robert Fell Docker applied to the war office / government for his son to be returned to England on compassionate grounds. Having lost both his youngest and his eldest son and business partner, he must have feared for the safety of his remaining son. 

The family business was run by Robert Lawson Docker and remained in operation for another 80 years until his son Bobby (Mr R.F. Docker) retired in 1998. Fred and Walter Docker, along with 211 other local men who were killed during WW1, are remembered on three plinths on the base of the Millom War Memorial. The memorial is a listed monument, and is erected on land sold to the local council by the Docker family in 1920. The land was used by the Dockers to graze their horses on; the horses were used to pull their business carts. The monument comprises a hexagonal base surmounted by figures of St Michael and the devil and also features the figures of a soldier, a seaman and an airman.

Karen Leece