HACKETT, Ernest

Ernest was born 1886 in Newport, to Annie HACKETT. In 1891 he was living at 51 Crocker Street, & in 1901 at the Malt & Hops Inn at 24 South Street. By 1911 he had joined the Army & was serving with 2nd Bn. Hampshire Regiment in the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. Some point he moved to the 1st Bn.

In August of 1914 the Battalion was in Colchester as part of 11th Brigade in 4th Division. They moved to Harrow but soon landed at Le Havre on 23rd August 1914.

During 1915 various battles raged on the Ypres Salient & it is not clear where or how Ernest was killed, but there were actions (15th June – 9th August 1915) at Givenchy, Bellewaarde & Hooge.

As the French attack in Artois continued, the British were called upon to continue offensive operations. Minor gains were made at another heavy cost in casualties.

Ernest, aged 29, was listed as Missing Presumed Killed on the 6th of July 1915 his body was never recovered or identified, & so he is commemorated by the Commission on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial with 54,574 of his missing comrades.

Ernest is also remembered on the County & Newport Borough War Memorials.