A look at two Cumbrians who lost their lives on the Titanic

The RMS Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, after hitting an iceberg whilst on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. 

Over 2,000 people were on board and around 1500 of them lost their lives in the accident. 

Of the people who tragically lost their lives, there were some from Cumbria. 

Two men in particular, Jonathon Shepherd and his mentor Joseph Bell, were some of the Cumbrians who lost their lives on the ship. 

Jonathon was born in Whitehaven in 1880 and Joseph was originally from Farlam, near Brampton. 

Jonathon had served on a ship that had been involved in a collision before, The Olympic that came into impact with HM cruiser Hawke in the Solent.

When Jonathon was a child he moved with his parents to Blackburn, serving his apprenticeship at the Canal Works of James Davenport. 

As his career developed he went on to work in places like Accrington and Sheffield. 

With a passion for working at sea, he secured a berth on a steamer belonging to Messrs W S Kennaugh & Sons, Liverpool, trading to South America.

After coming home he secured a certificate and joined the Lowther Castle of the same firm. 

Their ships were trading across parts of the US and Asia whilst the Russo-Japanese War was ongoing. 

Joseph Bell (Image: Newsquest)

Now, with the qualification of a Chief's Certificate, he joined White Star serving on the Adriatic, Teutonic, Olympic, and Titanic. 

He had the ambition to be chief engineer of a White Star liner but tragically died at the age of 32 on the Titanic serving as assistant 2nd engineer. 

When Joseph Bell was appointed as chief engineer on the Titanic he selected Jonathan to accompany him. 

It is reported that Jonathan hadn't wanted to work on the Titanic, wanting to stay with the Olympic, but he felt a duty to Bell and was honoured to do so. 

Mr Bell, who was aged 50, was the son of farmers John and Margaret Bell of Farlam, near Brampton. He left a wife Maud and four children.