William Hackett (VC) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Hackett
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| Born | 11 June 1873 Nottingham, England |
| Died | 27 June 1916 (aged 43) Near Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée, France |
| Buried |
Remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1915–1916 |
| Rank | Sapper |
| Unit | Royal Engineers |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
William Hackett (born June 11, 1873 – died June 27, 1916) was a brave English soldier. He received the Victoria Cross, which is the highest award for bravery in the face of the enemy. This special medal is given to soldiers from the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries.
Contents
Who Was William Hackett?
Early Life and Family
William Hackett was born in Nottingham, England. His parents were John and Harriet Hackett. Before he joined the army, William worked as a miner for 23 years. He was married to Alice Tooby, and they had two children, Arthur and Mary.
Joining the Army in World War I
Even though he had a heart condition and was told he was too old, William really wanted to join the army. He tried three times to join the York and Lancaster Regiment but was turned down. Finally, he joined the British Army on October 25, 1915. He was 43 years old.
William had a short basic training period. He then joined the Royal Engineers, which is a special part of the army that includes tunnellers. Tunnellers were soldiers who dug tunnels under enemy lines during World War I.
A Heroic Act
William Hackett was a Sapper, which is a type of engineer soldier. He showed incredible bravery on June 22-23, 1916. This happened at a place called Shaftesbury Avenue Mine, near Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée, France. For his brave actions, he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Sadly, William Hackett died trying to save his fellow miners. A tunnel collapsed at Shaftesbury Avenue Mine on June 26, 1916. He was helping others when this tragic accident happened.
Where Is William Hackett Remembered?
Memorials in Europe
William Hackett's name is on the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing. This memorial is in Belgium and remembers soldiers who died but have no known grave. His Victoria Cross medal is kept at the Royal Engineers Museum in Chatham, England.
In France, near where he died, there is a special Tunnellers Memorial. This memorial remembers the brave actions of tunnellers, including William Hackett, on June 26, 1916. The memorial is at the site of the Shaftesbury Shaft and the Red Dragon Crater. It is 120 cm (about 4 feet) high and 80 cm (about 2.6 feet) wide. These sizes are like the tunnels the soldiers dug. Peter Barton designed the memorial, and it was opened on June 19, 2010.
Memorial in England
There is also a memorial to Sapper William Hackett VC in Mexborough, England. This helps people remember his bravery in his home country.
William Hackett in Movies
A movie called The War Below (released in 2020) features a tunneller with the same name. This character is also a miner during World War I. However, the story in the movie is different from what happened to the real William Hackett.
