William Hackett Victoria Cross Recipient

Today I found out we had a true hero as part of our family.

I have just got in contact with a cousin, and that encounter has led to this discovery.

William Hackett was born in 1883 in Snenton, Nottingham.

He was one of 7 kids and he worked for 23 years in the mines in both Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire. He married Alice Tooley from Yorkshire in 1900 and started a family. He set up home near the mine in Mexborough near Doncaster.

In 1915 he tried 3 times unsuccessfully to join the York and Lancaster regiment, being rejected because he was to old at 42, and also he had a heart condition.

In 1915 the British Army advertised for miners to join up. William was successful in joining the Royal Engineers and at 43, he became a member of the 254 Tunnelling Company.

William had two weeks basic training and was sent to the front line in France. There he worked with many other miners, digging tunnels under German lines and planting explosives under them.

On 22 June 1916 a German mine exploded, trapping William and 4 other miners underground. It took 10 hours of digging for the teams to meet and although William was able to get 3 miners out, he was not able to get the last one. Even though he knew what would happen, he refused to leave the other tunneller on his own. William was trapped and although a rescue party worked for 10 days to free them, they failed and William is still where he died.

For this heroic act he was awarded Britain's highest award, the Victoria Cross.

William's medals donated to the museum in 1966 by his daughter.

William had received news days before his death that his 14 year old son had lost a leg in a mining accident, but due to his work couldn't go home to be with his son.

He got his friend to write the following letter home. (William could not read or write).

2nd February, 1916
It is very hard to have his leg off but God knows best…its very hard for me to be in this foreign land and have a lad placed in hospital…I cannot help him but I know you will do all you can.

He got his friend to write a few letters home. Mostly about how he wanted to leave the area they worked in.

After his death his friend wrote to his wife the following letter.

3rd July
Dear Mrs Hackett,

I am most sorry to have to write to you under such circumstances that is to inform you that your Husband Sapper Hackett was Killed in Action on 22nd June but I can tell you that that he died a heroes death as brave as any man as died in this war which I hope before long you will hear more about it. And I can tell you your Husbands death is sadly felt as he was respected by all the officers and men of the 254 Company and as for myself I miss him so much as if he was my own Father as you know I used to write his letters for him. And all the boys of his section wish me to send you their best wishes and hope that you and the children will have the best of health and good luck and hope you will try and bear the sad news and they asked me to tell you that you can be proud of the way your husband died as he was a hero if ever there was one. I only wish I could tell it the way it happen but as you know we are not allowed to but if I am spared to come over this lot I will come and see you and let you know all about it. Well Mrs Hackett I must draw to a close by wishing you and the children the best of health and good luck.

His commanding officer wrote the following letter.

11th July, 1916
I find it very difficult to express to you adequately the admiration I and all the officers had for the heroic manner in which your husband met his death. Sad as his loss may be to his own people, yet his fearless conduct and wonderful selfsacrifice must always be a source of pride and comfort to you all. Your husband deliberately sacrificed his own life to save his comrades, and even when three or four were saved he refused to save himself because the remaining man was too injured to help himself. He has been recommended for the V.C., that simple medal which represents all that is brave and noble. In token of our esteem, the officers and men are sending you a small gift in the near future, which we trust will be acceptable.

His wife received the Victoria Cross from King George IV at Buckingham Palace. It is now in the Royal Engineers Museum at Chatham.

Many memorials have been put up remembering William and the many Sappers that died in the First World War.

New memorial

A true hero still remembered. The latest memorial was erected in 1916 in his home town.

Images from google.