Hackett, William

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Cemetery: Ploegsteert Memorial

Country: Belgium

Area: Comines-Warnetonhainaut

Rank: Sapper

Force: Army

Official Number: 136414

Unit: 254th Tunnelling Coy. Royal Engineers.

Country of Service: British

Details: V C 27th June 1916. Age 43. Son of the late John and Harriet Hackett of Nottingham; husband of Alice Flinders (formerly Hackett) of 53 Cross Gate Mexborough Rotherham. Panel 1. An extract from "The London Gazette dated 4th Aug., 1916, records the following:-For most conspicuous bravery when entombed with four others in a gallery owing to the explosion of an enemy mine. After working for 20 hours a hole was made through fallen earth and broken timber and the outside party was met. Sapper Hackett helped three of the men through the hole and could easily have followed but refused to leave the fourth who had been seriously injured saying I am a tunneller, I must look after the others first. Meantime the hole was getting smaller yet he still refused to leave his injured comrade. Finally the gallery collapsed and though the rescue party worked desperately for four days the attempt to reach the two men failed. Sapper Hackett well knowing the nature of sliding earth, the chances against him, deliberately gave his life for his comrade".

Photograph by Jean Michel Van Eslende

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