William Hackett was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Details
He was 43 years old, and a Sapper in the 254th Tunnelling Coy., Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 22/23 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 working for 24 hours a hole was made and the rescue party outside contacted. Sapper Hackett helped three of the men through the hole and could easily have followed, but refused to leave the fourth man who had been seriously injured. The hole gradually got smaller, but he still refused to leave his injured comrade. Finally the gallery collapsed and although the rescue party worked desperately for four days, they were unable to reach the two men.
Further information
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum (Chatham, England).
Reference
See also
External links
This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.
