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Index record for

HACKETT, WILLIAM

UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919

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Fold3_Team

Fold3_Team  ·  Oct 31, 2023

Gazette Information: GAZETTE ISSUE 29695, VICTORIA CROSS,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29695/supplements/7744. His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. No. 136414 Sapper William Hackett, late Royal Engineers. For most conspicuous bravery. On 22nd/23rd June 1916 at Shaftesbury Avenue Mine, near Givenchy, France, Sapper Hackett was entombed with four others in a gallery owing to the explosion of an enemy mine. After 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.