Embedded Files
Samuel Hackett was Harry's younger brother and he was also involved in the Great War. When he enlisted his record states he was 5 feet 4 and a quarter of an inch tall and of fair complextion. His age is stated on his sign up papers as 19 years and 1 month, however his actual age at the time was nearer 16.
Following the publication of my book, which was reviewed in a local newspaper, I was fortunate enough to be contacted as 'a gentleman had been in touch with the newspapers' head office, saying he thought he was a relative'. I made contact with the gentleman and it turned out to be Sam Hacketts' son. Ivan is a spritely 88 years old and has many fond memories of his dad and he lives in Blackheath West Midlands, a stone's throw away from the British Legion on Powke Lane where his dad Sam and mother Frances were some of the original founder members.
The notes below are from Military service documents that I've managed to get hold of. You may well notice quite a few records of OFFENCES whilst serving and by all accounts he seemed to be a bit of a colourful character.
Timeline extracted from his official Military Service Records.
PRE WAR
1899 - Born at Old Hill, Staffordshire, to parents Samuel and Maria Hackett.
1915
25 May 1915 - Enlists in the 7th Battalion Worcestershire regiment Territorials (TF). At about the same time his Territorial service number is changed from (4137) a 4 digit to (201730) a 6 digit one, apparently this signifies moving to a fulltime role. He was initially stationed at Kidderminster.
1916
23 April 1916 - OFFENCE: Deprived 7 days pay for "Overstaying his pass from 9pm till 9pm, 24 hrs" at Windmill Hill Camp, Salisbury Plain.
29 October 1916 - OFFENCE: Given 21 days detention "(i) Not complying with an order and deprived 5 days pay for (ii) Insolence to an NCO at Cheltenham
1 December 1916 - OFFENCE: "Dirty rifle on parade" at Cheltenham, awarded 2 days confined to barracks.
15 December 1916 - OFFENCE: "Absent from parade 7am", at Cheltenham, awarded 2 days confined to barracks
1917
2 January 1917 - OFFENCE: Absent from parade 7am", at Cheltenham, awarded 3 days confined to barracks
27 February - OFFENCE: Dirty equipment on 8:15am parade" awarded 3 days confined to barracks
18 May 1917 - Embarked, presumably aboard a troop ship.
20 May 1917 - Disembarked in France
10 June 1917 - POSTED to the 4th Worcestershire Regiment
12 June 1917 - Joined Battallion in the field. The 4th battalion were involved in the Battle of Arras in the spring. They then found themselves in the Ypres Salient where they remained until mid October 1917.
17 September 1917 - OFFENCE: "(i) Inattention on Commanding Officer on parade. (ii) being uproperly dressed on parade. Whilst in the field. Awarded 7 days Confined to barracks.
9 October 1917 - Wounded in action
10 October 1917 - Moved to 56 General Hospital in Etaples
22 October 1917 - Returns home aboard hospital ship "Ville de Liege"
22 October 1917 - Record shows admitted to No2 Military Hospital, Canterbury. He was in there for 24 days for what looks like "Gash to Shoulder (flesh)"
16 November 1917 - Admitted to Military Hospital, Preston Hall, Aylesford with "Shrapnel to Shoulder (left)"
23 November 1917 - Discharged from above hospital
6 December 1917 - Shown as arriving at Command Depot, Ballyvonare Camp in Buttevant, County Cork.
1918
27 February 1918 - Shown as being discharged from Command Depot, Ballyvonare Camp in Buttevant, County Cork. He was states as category AIII.
28 February 1918 - POSTED to 4th Worcestershire Regiment
29 March 1918 - OFFENCE: "Insolence to an NCO, awarded 5 days Confined to barracks". Whilst at Blythe
2 April 1918 - Transfered to BEF, Blyth
5 April 1918 - Embarked at Folkestone
5 April 1918 - Disembarked at Boulogne
6 April 1918 - At Etaples
6 April 1918 - POSTED to 2/8th Worcestershire Battalion
22 April 1918 - Samuels' brother Harry is killed in The battle of the Lys
29 April 1918 - POSTED to 1/7th Worcestershire Regiment
18 May 1918 - "Sick to hospital" in the field
30 May 1918 - At the 150 Field Ambulance, casualty record indicates "PUO" Pyrexia of unknown origin also known as "FUO" fever of unknown origin or Trench Fever.
30 May 1918 - Still "PUO" moved to 16 General Hospital at Le Treport
3 June 1918 - Transferred to England from 16 General Hospital aboard hospital ship "St David".
4 June 191* - Hospital record states "Trench Fever", Three weeks leg pains and fever. Heart and lungs nil"
27 July 1918 - OFFENCE: "Overstaying his special pass" whilst at Sutton Coldfield, awarded 3 days confined to barracks and forfeited 1 days pay
7 September 1918 - POSTED to 7th Reserve Unit category AIII, Sutton Coldfield
13 September - OFFENCE: "Overstaying his pass from Tattoo 9:38pm until 11:20pm on 14 Sept 1918 (25 hrs 10 mins)". Whilst at Blyth, punishment was stated as "Admonished" awarded 3 days confined to barracks and forfeited 1 days pay
16 September 1918 - Posted to 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, Blyth
22 October 1918 - OFFENCE: "Absent from Tattoo 9:30am and remaining absent until found is his hut at reveille". Whilst at Blythe. Awarded 14 days CB (confined to barracks). Also forfeited 1 days pay.
31 October 1918 - Transferred to BEF, Blyth.
1 November 1918 - Returns to France
6 November 1918 - POSTED to 2/8 Worcestershire Regiment
17 November 1918 - Joined Unit in the field
1919
2 January 1919 - OFFENCE: Awarded 28 days Field Punishment Number 1 (FP No 1) for "Hesitating to comply with an order". Whilst in the Field. FP No 1, also known as 'crucifixion', involved the offender being shackled or bound upright to a fixed object such as a cartwheel for up to two hours a day. Samuel would have suffered this for 28 days.
9 February 1919 - Returns to England
17 February 1919 - Attends lecture at Chiseldon. Presumably to do with leaving the colours.
10 March 1919 - Demobbed. Samuel has served 3 years 290 days.
Service Record - (Note home may mean serving in England or recovering from injury)
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