HACKETT, Charles

Charles William Hackett attended Halesowen C of E school and worked for Walter Somers and Co. He volunteered for the Worcesters and was sent to the 14th Battalion, the Severn Valley Pioneers. They were usually just behind the lines involved in transporting supplies, road and bridge building and digging defences. They were never far from the action and suffered as much as the line infantry. The 14th were attached to the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division as their pioneer battalion and in October 1917 were fighting in the last stages of Third Ypres near the Passchendaele ridge. Despite the proverbial Flanders mud an attack was planned for the 26th October. However, the daily shelling was maintained by both sides in the days before the attack and Private Charles Hackett died of wounds on the 23rd October. He is buried in Dozinghem Cemetery (X C 1) and commemorated on the Halesowen, Halesowen C of E school and Walter Somers and Co. Memorials.