HACKETT, Reginald James
| Service Number: | 81 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 34th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Morpeth, New South Wales Australia, March 1895 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Dealer |
| Died: | Suicide by shooting, Horseshoe Bend, New South Wales Australia, 17 September 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Campbell's Hill (West Maitland) Cemetery Campbell's Hill (Catholic) Cemetery, Telarah, New South Wales. B2 Plot 39. |
| Memorials: | Maitland Horseshoe Bend Roll of Honour, Morpeth Public School Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 81, 34th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 81, 34th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 2 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 81, 34th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Sydney | |
| 8 Jun 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 81, 34th Infantry Battalion, GSW to right arm slight (infection?) amputated 20/12/1917 | |
| 9 Aug 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 81, 34th Infantry Battalion, 2nd MD - wounding - amputation of right arm |
Help us honour Reginald James Hackett's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell
The tragic story of a returned Digger from The Great War now resting peacefully at Campbell's Hill (Catholic) Cemetery, Telarah, New South Wales. B2 Plot 39.
On the 19th September 1918, Private Reginald James (Jim) Hackett, 34th Battalion (Reg No-81), dealer or miner from Cohen Street, Horseshoe Bend, New South Wales, was laid to rest with military honours (exhumed and re-interred 27th November 1918).
Born at Morpeth, New South Wales on the 22nd April 1895 to ? and Margaret Hackett; adopted mother Miss Ann F Soorley of Cohen Street, Horseshoe Bend, New South Wales, died 1923, West Maitland, Jim enlisted February 1916 at West Maitland, N.S.W.
Wounded in action - 7.6.1917 (SW right arm, slight, Battle of Messines).
Amputated arm 24.10.1917.
Jim returned home February 1918, being discharged medically unfit on the 9th August 1918.
Mr Hackett’s name has been inscribed on the Morpeth Public School Honor Roll, West Maitland and District Roll of Honor and the Horseshoe Bend Honour Roll (unveiled on the 21st October 1923, 64 names inscribed, 13 Fallen).
The tragic circumstances of Jim’s death meant that he was originally buried in unconsecrated ground, but there was such an outcry from the local RSL and the public that a reinterment took place in consecrated ground on the 27th November 1918.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123429369 - Reginald James Hackett, 23, a returned soldier, who resided with Miss Soorley at Cohen Street, Horseshoe Bend was found dead in bed at 8:45 o’clock on Wednesday morning with a revolver shot wound in the left temple. A revolver was lying near his hand. The deceased was a fine type of young man, well conducted and highly respected. He served at the front with the 34th Battalion, having left Australia in early May 1916 and crossed over to France from England in November of the same year. He remained in the firing line until June 7, 1917, and was wounded in the battle of Messines. As a result of the wound the arm was amputated above the elbow. Latterly, deceased had been low-spirited. He was unable to get proper rest, in consequence of the nerves in his arm troubled him, and it is stated had recently expressed himself as being tired of life.
I have placed poppies and a 1914-1918 WAR label to honour Jim’s service and sacrifice for God, King and Country, and will be submitting an application to DVA requesting that a Commonwealth War Graves Plaque be placed at Mr Hackett’s gravesite to restore his honour and dignity.
I would love to have contact with any Hackett/ Soorley descendants to add the inscription on the Plaque that will be placed at the gravesite.
Lest We Forget.
Click images to start slideshow.