Medals and memorial

Harry Hackett - Medal Roll Card. Includes the 1914 Star of an 'old contemptible'.

Harry's original medals from left to right - The 1914 Star, the Britsh War Medal and the Victory Medal. A bar clasp inscribed [5 Aug. to 22 Nov. 1914] was given to all those who qualified for the 1914 Star and who served under fire. The medals were affectionately known as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.

The page below lists Harry's details and is from the Rowley Regis Council Roll of Honour, a copy is kept at Powke Lane Cenotaph in Rowley Regis.

The War Memorial Powke Lane, Rowley Regis, West Midlands

The Memorial Plaque was issued after the First World War to the next-of-kin of all British and Empire service personnel who were killed as a result of the war. The plaques were about 5 inches (120mm) in diameter, made of bronze, and hence popularly known as the "Dead Man’s Penny", because of the similarity in appearance to the somewhat smaller penny coin. 1,355,000 plaques were issued. It was awarded to Mrs Olive Doretta Hackett (Widow)

The plaque shows

• an image of Britannia holding a trident and an oak spray with leaves and acorns

• an imperial lion

• two dolphins representing Britain's sea power

• the emblem of Imperial Germany's eagle being torn to pieces by another lion

• a rectangular tablet showing HARRY HACKETT in raised lettering. No rank was given as it was intended to show equality in their sacrifice,

• the words, 'He died for freedom and honour'.

• click on the image and you will see all of the detail stated above

The memorial plaque would be accompanied with by a Memorial Scroll [below], a letter from Buckingham Palace and a often letter from the deceased's commanding officer. They would not usually arrive as a single package, but as a series of separate mailings.

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