Sapper William Hackett V.C.
Born 11 June, 1873, Nottingham.
Served in the 254th Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers.
Victoria Cross citation
Printed in the London Gazette on 5 August 1916
“On 22 and 23 June, 1916, at the Shaftsbury Avenue, Nr Givenchy. 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 man 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 and the chances against him, deliberately gave his life for his comrade.”
A Tunnellers memorial was unveiled at Givenchy-les-la Bassee, France on the 19 June, 2010.
